104 
V5 V53 
opv 1 




CENTENNIAL OF VERNON (ROCK VILLE) 

JUNE 28 TO JULY 4 INCLUSIVE, 1908. 

SOUVENIR PROGRAM CONTAINING HISTORY OF THE 
TOWN, WITH EVENTS FOR THE WEEK, HALF 
TONES OF MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES AND PROM- 
INENT CITIZENS AND INTERESTING INFORMATION. 



O L P HO M B W K B K 

VERNON. A CENTURY OED, REJOICES AT THE PROG- 
RESS ACHIEVED. ROCKVILLE, CO NN.. "LOOM" CITY. 

PUBLISHED UNDER AUSPICES OF THE COMMITTEE 
ON ADVERTISING, PRINTING AND PUBLICITY. 



T. K. RADY & CO., I'RINTING. 
ROCKVILLE, COXN. 



COMMITTEE ON PRINTING, 

Francis A. Randall, Harry C. Smith, 

Geo. p. Wendheiser, Charles Backofen. 



history compiled by 
Harry C. Smith. 



AUTHORIZED BY SPECIAL TOWN MEETING. 



The Following Amended Resolution Authorizing the 

Centennial Celebration by Vote of the Town Was 

Passed at a Special Meeting Held Friday 

Evening, Nov. 29, 1907. 

Resolved — That the legal voters of the Town of Vernon 
ill Town Meeting assembled do hereby declare themselves 
in favor of an Old Home Week celebration, to be holden 
during some week in the year 1908, which will appropriately 
mark the One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Town of 
Vernon, and that a committee, consisting of the Board of 
Selectmen of the Town, the Town Treasurer, the Mayor of 
the City of Rockville, the President of the Rockville Bus- 
iness Men's association, and Hon. Francis T. Maxwell, rep- 
resenting the manufacturing interests of the town, be, and 
hereby are appointed a committee, with power to select 
fifteen other residents of the town, representing its business 
and professional interests, who together shall form a com- 
mittee of twenty-two, and who shall have power to arrange 
for, direct and carry out all plans for such celebration on 
such dates as they shall select and which shall be considered 
most appropriate from every standpoint. Said committee 
shall also have power to appoint any and all additional com- 
mittees and sul>-committees in their opinion necessary for 
the celebration. 

Resolved — That a sum not to exceed $2,000 be appro- 
priated from the Town Treasury to be used for the expenses 
incurred l)y the Old Home Week celebration during the 
centennial )'ear of the town, and that the Town Treasurer 
lie, and is lierel)y authorized to honor any and all orders 
from the Treasurer of the General Committee for such 
amounts that the committee shall need from time to time 
not to exceed in the aggregate the amount appropriated by ' 
the town. 

Resolved — That the City of Rockville be asked to do 
what it can legally do to co-operate with the town, througii 
the .Ma\i)r and Common Council, in making the celebration 
a success. 



GENERAL COMMITTEE. 



CHARLES PHELPS President 

THOAL\S F. NOONE Vice-President 

J. C. HAMMOND, Jr Secretary 

FRED. WOODH.\LL Assistant Secretary 

PARLEY B. LEON.VRD Treasurer 

FRANCIS B. SKINNER I'l^WCIS J. REGAN 

PAUL BRACHE A. B. PARKER 

JOHN H. ZIMMERMANN GEORGE P. \A-ENDHEISER 

FRANCIS T. MAXWELL JOHN W. HEFFERON 

FRANCIS A. RANDALL C. DENISON TALCOTT 

GEORGE FORSTER CH.^RLES BACKOFEN 

DAVID A. SYKES MORITZ KEMNITZER 

CHARLES N. McLEAN H. H. WILLES 

H. C. SAiITH 




1 AfSIMILE OF ORIGIXAL DEED EXE( ITED I\ 172C KY Wlllfn SAMUEL GRAM 
KE(AME THE I'lMU'lUETOK OK :,()0 A( HKS OF PKIMITIVE LA>DS, THEN 
ROKJH AAD RIGGED, XMV UOtKVlLLE. 



oi'MCiAi. i'Rnr;R.\.M— ( )i.i) hoaik wI':rk 




MCW I'.XI'.I.ANI 



THE NEW ENGLAND CO. was organized in 1836 by George Kellogg and 
Allen Hammond, who built its first mill in 1837, which was 120 by 34 feet, three 
stories and attic. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1841. During the fall and 
winter following the men employed in the mill cut the timber standing on a lot 
south of Fox Hill, and it was sawed at a sawmill standing where the American 
mill machine shop is now located, and the mill was rebuilt. 

In 1847 there was built an addition of 72 feet, making the present building 192 
by 34. The stone building, 120 by 40 feet, two stories and attic, used for storage 
and sorting wool, storage of yarn and drying of wool and yarn, was built in 1860, 
as was also the office and wheel house. 

The brick mill, five stories, 150 by 40 feet, was built in 1885, and machinery 
therein started in 1886. In 1847 Mr. Kellogg, who had previously been Agent at 
the old Rock Co., came to the New England Co., and Mr. Hammond went to the 
Rock Co., and built the new Rock mill, so called: subsequently Allen Hammond re- 
turned to the New England Co. and George Kellogg to the Rock. 

The New England Co. was among the first, if not the first, in this country to 
make fancy cassimeres, commencing to make them in its new mill in 1842. Allen 
Hammond went to Worcester and learned designing of the elder Mr. Crompton, 
the inventor of the Crompton loom at its first introduction in weaving. 

The 'Company has always stood high in its products, having taken first 
medals at the "World's Fairs" of Vienna, Philadelphia, Chicago, Paris and at Cin- 
cinnati. The American Institute, 2 first medals Institute of State of Pennsylvania, 
1 first medal Maryland Institute, Baltimore; first medal Hartford County, and 
Connecticut State Fair 3 first medals. 

The equipment of the Company consists of nine sets of cards, 114 broad looms 
and the other necessary machinery for making fine fancy goods. 

The mill is now largely making fine worsteds, using yarns made from the 
finest Australian wools, which they buy, (the making of yarns being an industry 
by itself), and make a great variety of fine worsteds, unsurpassed by any made 
either in this country or abroad. 

Mr. Allen Hammond died in 1864 and was succeeded by his son, A. Park 
Hammond, the present Treasurer of the Company. 

The present officers of the Company are : 

ROBERT MAXWELL, President. 

A. PARK HAMMOND, Treasurer. 

GEORGE B. HAMMOND, Clerk and Bookkeeper. 

FRANK EASTWOOD, Superintendent. 




SK ifUlLDINC;. CITIZENS' BLOCK. M. E. CHURCH. MEMORIAL BUILDINi 



UBXRY BUILniXG. THK ROCKVILLE 




ESTERNI SUMUS," 
"We are but of yester- 
day," wrote a Christian 
of the early days, ad- 
dressing the emperor in 
defense of his faith and 
practice. "Yet," lie add- 
ed, "we have filled every place of yours, 
cities and castles, islands and camps, the 
senate and the forum." 

The town of Vernon, which includes 
the city of Rockville, seems but of yester- 
day, as one recalls the numerous towns 
which celebrated their bi-centennials, or 
even cjuarter millenials, many years ago, 
constituent parts of the ancient republics 
which have been for more than two cen- 
turies united in one colony and state of 
Connecticut. The fame of Vernon, or 
Rockville's life and prosperity has filled 
many places near and far, and her manu- 
facturing plants — giant woolen industries 
— are splendid monuments of the sturdy 
qualities of the fathers, which have de- 
scended from one generation to another, 
a perpetual reminder of her busy activi- 
ties and the usefulness of the work she is 
doing in the field of industrial progress. 
Indeed, the history of the town tells of 
high purpose, faithful endeavor and hon- 
orable achievement in every generation 
from the settlement of the town to the 
present time. No chapter, however, con- 
tributes more to the town's renown than 
woolen manufacturing. It is this industry 
which has built the town up and sent its 
name and fame around the world. 



\\'hen an infant in swaddling clothes 
the town occupied a unicjue and conspic- 
uous position in the woolen industry of 
the countr}', which was then in its primi- 
tive stage. 

If Col. Francis McLean. one of the good 
fathers of the town, a pioneer in the 
woolen industry, the man who built the 
first woolen factory of any size in the 
town, a factory which was looked upon as 
a nine days' wonder, could look in upon 
the town today and see the large and 
magnificent woolen manufacturing plants, 
it is quite likely he would rub his eyes and 
wonder if he weren't dreaming. Surely a 
remarkable transformation has taken 
place. 

\^ hen Aernon was incorporated as a 
town it was by no means a new settle- 
ment. It had an interesting and not un- 
important history. While a century has 
passed since Vernon acquired political 
recognition as a town of Connecticut, the 
history of the town of A'ernon properly 
begins with the settlement of the town of 
Bolton. In 1800 there were 1452 inhai)- 
itants in Bolton. In 1810 Vernon had a 
population of 827, while Bolton's popula- 
tion was but 700. It would be unjust in 
giving an historical sketch of Vernon and 
Rockville to omit reference to Bolton, for 
the larger part of Vernon and Rockville 
\vas for many years included in Bolton 
township. The state of Connecticut bears 
upon her seal the three vines which stand 
for the first three towns. Hartford. Wind- 
sor and W'eUiersfield. Bolton ami Xeruon 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD IIOMF AA'FFK. 



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price. 

Krakiuier Bros. Factories: 

C\'press Avenue, 136th to 137th Streets 
Nicw York 





General Representative for Rockville and vicinity". 

George Peter Wendheiser, 



Cor. Main and Market Sts. 



HIGH GRADE MONUMENTAL WORKS 




Monuments and Headstones 
of P'oreign and Domestic 
Granite. . . Also Marble 






Established in 1(S69 

The Adams 
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(SI Hrooklyn Street 
Rotkxille, - Connecticut 



VERXON - ROCK\"ILLE CEXTENNIAL CEEEI'.RATIOX. 



were settled by persi:)ns from Windsor, 
Hartford and Wethersfield, and the name 
of Grant was prominent in the early days 
of the town. Samuel Grant being the first 
white settler in the villai^e of Rockville, 
the transaction of the original deed cover- 
ing the rough and rugged lands of Rock- 
ville taking place in ilartford, April 29, 
1726, being made to him by the agents of 
the proprietors of the Bolton lands. The 
settlement of Vernon dates back to 1716, 
80 years after the settlement of Hartford 
by Hooker and Haynes, of revered mem- 
ory, and 77 years after the adoption of the 
first American constitution at Hartford by 
the planters of Connecticut colony. Bolton 
proper was originally a part of the town 
of Hartford. It went by the name of 
"Hartford Mountains" and was some- 
times called "Hannover." 

Bolton township was a flourishing cen- 
ter of population and enjoyed business 
prosperity long before Rockville had a 
beginning. Its early inhabitants took 
pride in keeping up appearances. They 
desired to lay out through the center of 
the settlement a broad street or common. 
The owners were to throw the land into 
commons, and of course without charges. 
A certain farm, owned by Samuel Grant 
of Windsor, interfered with the carrying 
out of the project. Being a non-resident, 
he did not take sufTicient interest in the 
improvement to induce him to give the 
land. Samuel Grant's lack of public spirit 
did not disturb the inhabitants, however. 
They made him a proposition to exchange 
his farm in Bolton for certain lands be- 
longing to the proprietors of Bolton lands, 
lying in the north end of the township. 
lUounting his horse, he rode over from 
Windsor to look at the lands. Arriving 
at the western boundary he plunged into 
the forest and clambered up the stream, 
over rocks and through thickets, until he 
reached the outlet of the pond. Idaving 
prospected sufficiently, he worked his 
way back to his starting point. He now 
rode down to Bolton and oltercd to swap 
his farm there of about 100 acres for 500 
acres of the lands in North Bolton. No 
time was lost in accepting his offer and 
the writings were hastened with all due 
diligence for fear he might regret his bar- 
gain. 



I'he men who made the proposition to 
Samuel (irant weren't ([uite satisfied that 
it would come to a successful issue. They 
could not see what he could do with the 
rough lands on Snipsic outlet, then con- 
sidered practically worthless and of no 
value. The transaction, however, was 
fully consummated, as the facsimile of 
the original deed in possession of the 
Grant family, which appears at the be- 
ginning of this article, attests. 

It is questionable if Samuel Grant, 
after becoming the proprietor of five hun- 
dred acres of primitive lands, then rough 
and rugged, now Rockville, foresaw what 
the tumbling waters were to be made to 
do, and what wealth they were to develop. 
Undoubtedly he saw a future possibility 
of grist and saw mills on his newly-gotten 
streams, and shrewdly saw money in the 
possibility. Being a pushing, aggressive 
sort of man, once in the possession of his 
lands, Samuel Grant packed his saddle 
bags of a Monday morning, leaving his 
kinsfolk in Windsor, rode bravely along 
the forest paths, and hitched his horse at 
the corner of Union and West streets. He 
buckled right in and worked with a will, 
erecting in the course of weeks a solid and 
comfortable log house. The house was 
afterwards replaced by a frame house, and 
that by the one now standing on the old 
site chosen by the pioneer. 

Reference to the Grant family, who 
took a conspicuous part in the early life 
of Rockville, would be incomplete with- 
out at least brief mention of Ozias, only 
son of Samuel Grant. He was a man w ho 
attracted marked attention. A miller by 
trade, he was large and stalwart, and 
usually wore the white linen cap of those 
days, and is remembered by old people as 
a man of simple and cjuaint manners, 
whose foot made a great track in the sand. 
He was pressed into the English army 
and took part in the Quebec campaign 
and the march on Lexington alarm. He 
was a maker of queer speeches, some of 
which are remembered and one of which 
is as follows. When discussing the quali- 
ties of the various kinds of wood, said he: 
"A good yaller swamp oak for a mud sill 
wdlUast for ages, but a real fat yaller pine 
will last a good deal longer than a swamp 
oak." A native of East Windsor, where 



10 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




ROPKINS & COMPANY, 



Hartford, 



Connecticut 



VERNON -ROCK\'ILLE CENTENNIAL CELEl'.RATION. 



11 



he was born in 17.i3, he ched in X'crnon in 
1823 at the aije (if 'JO _\-ears. Ik- is hnried 
in the ancient l)uryiny t^rcumd at \'er- 
non. 

Of ( )zias ,Grant"s six sons all hut one, 
who was killed, settled down on the 
original acres and built houses, three of 
which are yet standing, viz., the one at 
the corner of West and Union streets, the 
main part of the homestead of Ozias 
Grant, built in 1809 on the site of the 
original log cabin, built by Samuel (irant, 
the first house in Rockville. It is now 
owned and occupied by Nathaniel R. 
Grant, in whose possession is the original 
deed. A cut of the house appears else- 
where. For one hundred years the road 
on the left in the illustration was called 
Grant street. The homestead of Elnathan 
Grant was probably built about 1782 by 
Ozias Grant. It is still standing. The 
homestead of Augustus Grant is over a 
century old. It has passed out of the 
family, but is still standing. 

One of the most interesting periods 
in the history of the town was reached 
when, in 1762, on top of the hill, still 
known to some as the "Old Meetinghouse 
Hill," the first church in the town was 
erected. As early as 1749 a petition 
signed by eighteen of the inhabitants of 
the north part of the town of Bolton was 
sent to the General Assembly asking that 
the privilege of a winter parish be grant- 
ed. The people felt that they had just 
cause for relief, as they lived from five 
to seven miles from the meetinghouse, 
and the roads were rough and traveling 
anything but comfortable. This privi- 
lege was granted and winter preaching 
was enjoyed, meetings being held in the 
schoolhouses and private residences un- 
til room became cramped and the Eccles- 
iastical society of North Bolton was 
formed, in 1760. The territory of this 
society was the same as the present town 
of Vernon. When the town was set off it 
was divided on the lines as established 
by the two ecclesiastical societies. 

The meetinghouse stood about half a 
mile east of the present meetinghouse at 
Vernon Center, halfway between the 
Bamforth place, formerly the Hubbard 
Kellogg place, and the Charles ( ). Dart 
residence, a well-known inn during the 



early da}'s of the town. Surrounded by 
the original forest, vviiich, when summer's 
sun was high, cast a grateful shade about, 
it had a stately dignity, in spite of its 
]5lainness. The building was a four- sided 
one in the prevailing style of architecture 
for country churches, without any steeple. 
Slow [irogress was made in fitting the 
building owing to the slender means of 
the people. It remained without pews 
until 1770 and was not plastered until 
1774. The frame of the church was used 
in the east wing of the old Frank factory 
at Rockville. A slab — the thoughtfnlness 
of Mrs. George Maxwell, marks the spot 
where the church stood. 

\^ernon was fortunate in the selection 
of her first pastor. Rev. Ebenezer Kel- 
logg, who was called Nov. 24, 1762, and 
whose pastorate continued for a period 
of fifty-five years. Affectionately known 
as '"Priest" Kellogg, a scion of that sturdy 
stock which has given many distinguished 
men to the country, strong mentally, he 
held his people with a vigorous hand. A 
Puritan himself, his people became like 
him, Puritans also. 

The peculiar theology and religious 
character of New England Congregation- 
alism was indellibly stamped upon the 
men who went from Vernon to Rockville 
in 1821 to organize its business and plant 
its institutions. With them the Sabbath 
commenced with the setting of the sun 
of Saturday, from their recognition of the 
recorded fact that "evening and morning- 
made creation's first day." Even the "di- 
vinity that doth hedge a king" commands 
hardly more attention than that wdiich 
was paid to the minister in the early 
days of the town. The very children were 
taught to make obeisance to him as they 
passed along the street. An atmosphere 
of dignity and solemnity seemed 
to emanate from his black clothes, high 
stock and white cravat. Sabbath day 
was universally honored. Civil guardians 
restrained out-of-door disturbances of its 
quiet, and "tithingmen," with their long, 
slender wands gently touching suspected 
boys or girls, prevented disturbances in 
the sanctuary. One of the tithingmen 
got to slee]) during the service in the old 
church at Vernon Center one Sunday. He 
occupied a rear pew under the gallery. 



12 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOMF WFEK. 



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VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



13 



His head thrown back and mouth wide 
open, he afforded an opportunity for a 
mischievous boy in the gallery to let 
loose some of his pent-up mischief, and it 
goes without saying that the boy was not 
slow to make the most of the opportunity. 
He dropped a well masticated quid of to- 
bacco which landed well in the back of 
the tithingman's throat. It was a some- 
what rude and rather unpleasant awaken- 
ing; but boys will be boys, and while the 
tithingman felt somewhat cheap, it's quite 
likely he wasn't caught napping again. 

Tradition says that a tin peddler by 
the name of Dean, who had been ped- 
dling his wares up this way, desired to 
get to his home in Stafford for over Sun- 
day. Knowing how strict the people 
were and with what horror they viewed 
any desecration of the Sabbath, he in- 
geniously made a dummy to represent a 
man from bags which he had in his 
wagon. When he reached the place where 
Nathan Lanz now lives he was halted liy 
one of the good fathers of the town, who 
came rushing out of the house. With a 
solemnity that would do justice to a dea- 
con of those days, the tin peddler said, 
"Keep away, keep away, I've got a small- 
pox case here." It is needless to say that 
the tin peddler was allowed to go on his 
waj' unmolested. The good father of the 
town who sought to hold him up went 
back to the house quicker than he came 
out. 

About half a mile east of the spot 
where Vernon's first meetinghouse stood, 
on the road from Rockville to Bolton, is 
an ancient burying ground — an acre con- 
secrated for the burial of the dead. It 
was laid out many years before the first 
church was erected. Probably the site 
of the church was selected partly because 
of its proximity to the cemetery, but prin- 
cipally because of its location on a high 
hill. It was customary in the early days of 
New England to select the most elevated 
site that could be found. There are many 
old gravestones there and several graves 
without any stones. Tradition says that 
the first body buried there was that of 
a child who was killed by a fall from a 
load of goods near the very spot. The 
goods were being moved by ox team 
from Bolton. The child was l)uried in 



the northeast corner of the cemetery. 
There is no place of burial where with 
more peculiar fitness one may quote the 
pathetic lines : 

"Each in his narrow cell forever laid. 
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 
Once the center of the parish, time has 
played strange pranks. It is today "far 
from the madding crowd's ignoble 
strife," removed from the haunts of men. 
Few go there, except the curious and 
those drawn by a desire to muse and be 
alone. The writer spent one day there 
a few years ago reading the numerous 
quaint epitaphs. As we wander through 
the old graveyard and pause to read the 
uncouth rhyme, under the rudely carved 
death's head on the frail memorial of one 
of the early ])ionecrs, we are bidden : 

"Behold and see as you pass by. 

As you are now so once was I ; 

As I am now so must you be. 

Prepare for death and follow me." 
.Many of the fathers of the town, men 
who helped make history in the early 
days and who lived godly and useful lives, 
are buried in the ancient burying ground, 
among them being tlie honored and saint- 
ly Ebenezer Kellogg, \^ernon's first pas- 
tor, who died Sept. 3, 1817. Less than 
four months before his death he recorded 
with his own hand the last admission to 
the church during his lifetime, Eliza, wife 
of George Kellogg. Following is the in- 
scription on the stone erected in honor of 
Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg : 

Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg died 
Sept. 3rd, 1817, in the S 1st year 
Of his age, and .^.'^th year 
Of his ministry in this place. 

"In yonder sacred meetinghouse he spt-nt 

his breath. 
Now silent ; senseless, here he sleeps in 

death. 
These lips again shall wake and then de- 
clare, 
A long amen to li-uths they published 
there." 
With our fathers, religion and educa- 
tion went hand in hand. As .soon as set- 
tlements were made, first the meeting- 
house was erected and almost sinudtan- 
eously action was taken toward the erec- 
tion of schoolhouses. A school societv 



14 



OFFICIAT. PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



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l;i 



was formed in the town of North Bolton 
(\"ernon), Oct. 31. 1796. At thi.s meeting- 
a committee was appointed "to [jrocure 
Masters and Misses in their respective 
districts." The following are the names 
of that committee : Reuben Skinner. Tal- 
cott Flint, John Alcott, Leonard Rogers, 
Benjamin Talcott, jr., and Abijah Johns. 
At this meeting the town fathers decreed 
that all public money loaned should be 
secured with bondsmen accepted by the 
society committee ; the committee by 
"setting up a notification in \\'riting on 
the Door of each Schoolhonse according 
to law" ; to raise one penny and a half on 
the last August list to support schooling 
for the ensuing year. John Walker, Jr.. 
and Eliakim Hitchcock were appointed 
collectors for the ensuing year. 

The first meetings were held in the old 
meetinghouse of North Bolton. A com- 
mittee was appointed in 1808 to visit and 
inspect the various schools of the town. 
The first committee so appointed con- 
sisted of Scottoway Hinckley, Oliver 
King, Benjamin Talcott, Jr., and Thomas 
H. Kellogg. 

In the early days of the town of Ver- 
non it was not considered out of place for 
good people to take a little "sling" or 
"fllip." Mr. Cogswell, in his excellent 
history of Rockville, gives us a clear in- 
sight into the customs that prevailed from 
1801 to 1821. He says: "It is my opin- 
ion that no man from 1801 to 1821 be- 
lieved it an evil to drink on all occasions. 
Alcohol was the balm for every wound. 
Everybody drank some kind of liquor 
for their particular kind of infirmities. I 
will include the good old ministers, one 
in particular, who said it was very pleas- 
ant practice at a wedding to drink 'flip' 
and tell stories." Referring to the build- 
ing of the second church in Vernon in 
1826, Mr. Cogswell, remarking upon this 
infirmity of that age, says : "The old and 
young were there — every one. The rais- 
ing went on, one, two and three days, 
from noon till night ; finally, with the aid 
of a barrel of rum, the raising was com- 
pleted." The prices for "flip" and "sling" 
may be somewhat a matter of interest to- 
day. According to a diary kept by a 
well-known resident of A'ernon in 1817, 
nine years after the incorporation of the 



town, and during the ])erio(l in which His- 
tcjrian Cogswell saj^s "no man believed it 
evil to drink on all occasions," Russell 
Horton paid 12 cents for one gill of 
brandy: John W'inslow paid 31 cents for 
one-half gill rye and cheese ; Jonas Sparks 
"to boarding schoolmaster for you two 
weeks," $4.00: Daniel Root, to one-half 
gill phlip, 6 cents ; Timothy Pearl, to one- 
half bowl sling, 12 cents; Hosea Bronson, 
"for one pound of sugar, 18 cents" ; Ches- 
ter King is charged "one half bowl sling, 
you and Bingham ; three glasses sling you 
and Culver" ; Peter Dobson buys one pint 
French brandy, and Phineas Talcott one 
pint of rum. One man is credited $3 for 
breaking flax ; another with weaving 21^ 
yards of cloth. It will be borne in mind 
that weaving was done in the homes of 
the people. One man is credited 50 cents 
for a horse to Hartford. One man is 
charged "to keeping horse one night, to 
hay and eight quarts oats, breakfast and 
one glass brandy, 75 cents." 

Francis McLean, one of the good fath- 
ers of the town, to whom the town is 
largely indebted for its start in manu- 
facturing, was a remarkable man. He 
was one of those rare geniuses, who leave 
their impress upon the entire life of the 
community. A superior mathematician, 
arithmetic and sur\eying were his favor- 
ite studies. Building dams and houses, 
planning and laying out work that others 
thought difl^icult was his delight. Full of 
energy, life and ambition, he probably ac- 
complished more business in his day than 
any other man in the country and re- 
mained in the harness until the age of 77 . 
He did not shirk military duty and was 
but 18 when he started in. As he tells 
it : "I was a soldier first, then was chosen 
corporal, then sergeant, then orderly ser- 
geant, then ensign, then lieutenant, then 
captain, then major and then colonel. 1 
went too fast from one office to another 
for my own good. 1 was captain of a 
company eight years, was major two 
years, commanded a regiment, the Sev- 
enth Company, as colonel, one year." 
Then there was a change in the militia 
law, and the whole military system of the 
state was changed. 

The good old days — the days of the 
tavern and statre coach — have trone. 



16 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




HALL OF ROCKVILLE TURN VEREIN, 
Organized 1858. 



VERNON -ROCKNILLE CENTENNIAL CELET'.RATIOX. 



17 



Times ha\e changed and quite naturally 
there has been a change in methods of 
transportation. We are hving in a hurry- 
ing; and worrying age. Time is precious 
and it appears to be getting more precious 
as we progress. Possibly before another 
century arrives the airship will succeed 
the lightning express, as the lightning- 
express has succeeded the stage coach. 
As an institution of the early days, the 
stage coach and tavern stand pre-eminent. 
Few of us can recall the stage coach days, 
but many of us love to read of them and 
somehow or other most of us feel that 
while traveling wasn't as fast and pos- 
sibly not so comfortable then as now, 
that there was a spirit of neighborliness 
about it and much human interest. If 
the old turnpike over which the old stage 
coach passed could but speak, how many 
stories rich in heart interest it could tell. 
Rockville had her share of famous taverns 
around which are associated many facts 
of great historic interest. 

"Waffle"' tavern, built by Col. King, 
was one of the best known of the taverns. 
It was the first hotel in the tow-n of Ver- 
non, and was erected prior to the Revo- 
lutionary war. It was on the stage route, 
and as it was the custom to change 
horses frequently, they were always 
changed at this tavern prior to going over 
the Tolland hills. The tavern had a 
reputation with the traveling public 
which extended far and wide. Times in 
some respects were little different then 
than they are today. The quickest way 
to reach a man's heart, then as now, was 
via his stomach. The old tavern had 
many good things to eat, but it made a 
specialty of waffles. The waffles it made 
were most delicious. They were so good 
that people went out of their way t<i sto]i 
at the tavern just to try thcm.^ Once a 
customer, always a customer. The repu- 
tation the tavern had for making excellent 
waffles led to its being called "Waffle" 
tavern. During the war with England 
transportation was very heavy, the old 
turnpike being lined with teams, there 
being a continual procession of people. 
Tavern proprietors made money, and the 
large business wdiich "Waffle" tavern 
did was most encouraging, so much so 
that Col. King felt justified in going 



ahead and erecting a larger tavern to 
meet the demands. 

King's tavern superseded "Waffle'' 
tavern, being one of the best hostelries 
on the road between New York and Bos- 
ton. It was a relay station where horses 
were changed. It was built about 1820 
of brick manufactured near where the 
buildings now stand. It was known as 
"King's Stage House." Lafayette passed 
through Tolland county when he made 
his memorable visit to the L'nited States 
in 1824. He was on his way from Boston 
to Hartford. Expecting to see him, the 
militia was called out, which consisted 
of two companies, with the addition of 
two heavy cannon. I'"rom sunrise until 
sunset the guns kept up their continual 
roaring, for his presence was expected 
every moment. Runners on horses 
would often tell the troops that he was 
near b}', until late in the night, the story 
could be believed no longer. The militia 
remained at their posts past midnight, 
then disbanded and lost the pleasure of 
giving our nation's friend a grand salute. 
The distinguished visitor finally put in 
an appearance, stopping long enough at 
E. Smith's tavern at Tolland to give the 
people an opportunity to see him, then 
passing on to King's Stage House, stop- 
ping some little time. He was met with 
kind remembrances and good wishes by 
many old soldiers who had fought with 
him in the Revolution. One of the vet- 
erans was Solomon Eaton of Tolland, and 
he was well remembered by Cjen. Lafay- 
fc'.ie. After a short interview, hands were 
shaken. Mr. Eaton said: "I wish you 
health and a happy journey through this 
land of liberty and independence." The 
general replied: "(lod bless you and your 
land of liberty." In the old building a 
room was specially decorated for his oc- 
cupancy, and up to within a short time 
it retained the paper then put on the 
walls. Lafayette siient the night in Staf- 
ford, however, and took breakfast here. 
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster were 
other notaI)les to visit this tavern. Daniel 
Webster's favorite disli was broiled 
chicken. The mother of Samuel J. Chaf- 
fee, formerly of Rockville, was employed 
at King's tavern as cook. .\s the stage 
stopped but a short time, it rec|uircd ex- 



18 



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\ I:R.\( ).\ - R( )CK\ILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



19 



pedition in the preparation of tlie meal 
for the distinguished statesman. The 
chicken was cauglit, cut in two. and while 
one half was cooking the other half was 
being prepared by the cook. Daniel Web- 
ster had a good meal of chicken, caught 
the stage, and went on his wav rejoicing. 
In 1847, when staging was abandoned, 
the tavern was closed. It was used as 
a farmhouse until purchased by the town 
for a town farm. 

Another tavern, or wayside inn, which 
was well known in the early days of the 
town, is the Sullivan house at Dobson- 
ville. It is considerably over 100 years 
old. While it has been changed some- 
what and repaired, it conforms closely to 
its original construction. Many promi- 
nent people have stopped there and a 
number of social entertainments have 
been given there. The old dance hall can 
he seen at the present day. About six 
feet from the floor there is a little alcove, 
where "Bije" Evans, a character in the 
early days of the town, used to fiddle for 
the dancers. The music at first would 
be very slow, become a little faster and 
end up so fast that it would be almost 
impossible for the dancers to keep up 
with it. Whenever things were going 
slowly and any one desired any amuse- 
ment, all he need do was to stand on the 
corner and toot a horn. Within a very 
few minutes couples would come from 
all about the neighborhood ready for the 
breakdown. The menagerie (they didn't 
have circuses in those days) also exhib- 
ited in front of this tavern. Several prom- 
inent men have managed the tavern at 
various times and there has been a num- 
ber of occupants of the house. 

Oliver King was for many years 
prominently identified with Vernon's af- 
fairs. He 'was the first town clerk and 
treasurer and held these offices a great 
many years. It is said that while he lived 
no other man was ever sent to the legis- 
lature from the town. It is said that at 
a caucus called for the nomination of a 
representative, the moderator, after call- 
ing the caucus to order, said: "Gentle- 
men, please bring 'for'ard" your ballots for 
Oliver King to represent you in the 
"legislater.' " 

A familiar and welcome sign of long 



ago was the village doctor im horseback 
with his saddlebags. He lield a very 
warm spot in the hearts of the people. 
The friend of every one, he was beloved 
and venerated next to the minister. His 
store of huge pills and herbs carried heal- 
ing and comfort to all the countryside. 
Dr. Alden Skinner, father of Town Clerk 
Erancis B. Skinner, was one of the last 
of these old-time doctors. He is still rc- 
mendjered by man}' with reverent tender- 
ness. He was a good man, a kindly man. 
whose presence in the sick room was a 
benediction. He carried cheer with him 
wherever he went. This was part of his 
medicine. For many years he rode up 
and down the hills from his office at Ver- 
non Center, where Randall A Beach now 
lives. He had a large practice in Ver- 
non and all the surrounding towns. He 
charged from 2.t cents to 50 cents for a 
visit, and when the journey was long, 73 
cents. Oftentimes he made no charges. 
Many were the families who were bene- 
ficiaries of his big heart. He traveled 
occasionally on horseback, but more often 
went in his gig, and he got over the roads 
in great shape. He alwaj-s took good 
care of his horses and they were never 
overworked. He was a heroic doctor, or 
believed in heroic treatment. Blood let- 
ting, cathartics, antimony, mercury, qui- 
nine, arsenic, etc., were his favorite rem- 
edies. Dr. Skinner was a man possessed 
of an uncommonly strong and vigorous 
intellect. His memory was large and 
tenacious. He was a most successful 
teacher of medicine, having instructed a 
large number of students. He went to 
New Orleans in 1862, as surgeon of the 
2.Sth regiment, Connecticut volunteers. 
He died March 30. 1863, of malarious 
typhoid, contracted in the service of his 
country. He was 64 years old. In his 
honor the local camp Sons of \'cterans 
was named after him, being called Alden 
Skinner camp. 

The name of Talcott has long been a 
prominent one in Tolland county. The 
family all descend from John TalcoU. 
who came from England. John was one 
of three children born in England. He 
was left a minor by the death of his 
father in 1()04. He came to Boston with 
others of Rev. Mr. Hooker's family. Jo- 



20 



OFFICIAL PROGRAIM— OLD HOME WEEK. 










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VERNON -ROCKVILI.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



seph Talcott, one of the descendants of 
John Talcott, was governor of the state. 
In the church records of the town of Bol- 
ton the Talcott name frequently occurs. 
Their names are recorded as ministers of 
the gospel and deacons of the church, and 
in the town of Vernon the name is com- 
mon and prominent, including many of 
the early settlers who founded the town 
and who have taken a conspicuous part 
in its growth and development. Phineas 
Talcott was one of the distinguished 
members of this family. His wife was 
Lora McLean, daughter of Francis Mc- 
Lean, the founder of Rockville. Phineas 
Talcott was agent of the Rock Manufac- 
turing Co. in 1837, organizer of the Amer- 
ican mills, its largest stockholder and 
president until his death in 1863. He 
held numerous town offices and repre- 
sented Vernon in the legislature. He 
was for many years the most prominent 
trial justice in the county and never was 
more at home than when trying cases. He 
would tackle anything in sight. He was 
the delegate to the constitutional conven- 
tion from Vernon in 1818. The town voted 
against the new constitution, 98 to 11. 
George Talcott, president of the Ameri- 
can Mills company and president of the 
First National bank, is a son. Although 
81 years of age, he is vigorous physically 
and mentally and attends to his business 
daily. To look at him one would not take 
him to be a day over 60. 

The village of Talcottville, known as 
Kelloggville in the early days, having 
been purchased of Hon. N. O. Kellogg in 
1856 by Horace W. and Charles Denison 
Talcott, is a part of the town of Vernon. 
Its location is ideal, its appearance im- 
maculate. The similarity of design, color 
of ornament, and general appearance of 
its residences is sufficient evidence that 
the aggregate are under the control of one 
corporation. Mill, store and dwellings 
are of the Puritanical whiteness, and the 
window blinds are of the regulation and 
time-honored green. Not a fence of any 
description mars the beauty of the well- 
kept lawns. The manufacture of I'nion 
cassimeres has been carried on here for 
a great many years, the ])rcsent stock 
company being organized in \X5(>. the 
Talcott families or their heirs being the 



stockholders. The high moral and re- 
ligious character of the village inaugur- 
ated years ago has been maintained down 
to the present time. There are few hap- 
pier or healthier communities in New 
England. 

Snipsic Lake is one of the beauty spots 
of Rockville. It was formerly a favorite 
camping ground of the Indians (named 
by them Lake Schenips-it), as the numer- 
ous arrowheads, rude stone axes and 
other Indian relics found on its shores, 
abundantly prove. It is even to this day 
a favorite resort of relic hunters. The 
lake itself is not large. It's an ideal sheet 
of water, however, and is surpassed by 
few New England lakes. In its setting 
and adornment, nature has been most 
prodigal of her charms. Bordered in part 
by forest trees, whose tall, graceful forms 
are mirrored in its pellucid waters, in 
part by immense boulders, projecting 
cliffs and fine farms, with here and there 
a summer cottage, it is destined to be- 
come an even more favorite summer 
resort than it is today. With the opening 
of the new trolley road to Stafford 
Springs, which passes directly by the 
lake, thousands of summer visitors are 
certain to appreciate its beauty. The 
present height of the dam is 26y> feet. 
The pond covers 625 acres. The original 
lake was half that. It is 515 feet above 
the sea level. 

(Jf the descendants of the Indians who 
pitched their tents on the eastern slope of 
.Schenipsit lake, settling near Sucker 
brook, Aunt Sara and Isaac Rogers were 
somewhat favorablv known to the early 
settler. They pitched their hamlet at the 
head of the pond, the site which is now 
easily found. Isaac was addicted to 
drink, and one day, being too full of fire- 
water, he trolled off in his canoe and wet 
himself fatally. 

Aunt Sara, a pious, good-natured half- 
l)reed, found favor with all the inhab- 
itants, who always generously filled her 
basket when she made her usual tour. A 
tract commending her excellences was 
]iiil>lislKcl ;ind had considerable circula- 
tion, in wliii-h. possil)ly, her virtues were 
exaggerated, although she was indeed a 
woni;in of ;i tender lieart. 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOWE WEEK. 




THE MINTERBURN MILLS COMPANY, 

Manufacturers of 

Fine Woolens and Worsteds. 



TIIOMAvS II. SVKES, Presideut. M. C. MAvSON, Treasurer 

FRANK R. RKISKR, SiiiieriiUendfut. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



23 



Snipsic Lake, through its outlet, the 
winding, sinuous Hockanum pours down 
a grade of one hundred and fifty feet to 
the mile into the valley below, furnish- 
ing one of the finest and most easily 
available water powers to be found in 
America, and steady. The supply of water 
is practically inexhaustible, and the de- 
scent is so rapid that the power may 
be used over and over again, at surpris- 
ingly short intervals. To the genius of 
"Snip," as it is affectionately known, 
Rockville is indebted for its growth and 
development for the past century. The 
beautiful Hockanum is the magic wand 
which has transformed an unfertile, un- 
promising and what appeared at one time 
to be a worthless tract of land, into a 
thriving city of substantial mills, modern 
streets, beautiful residences and fine 
parks. By its invisible arm, gravitation, 
Snipsic daily sets in motion more than a 
score of waterwheels, and for the space 
of more than a mile the Hockanum is 
literally studded with shops and factories. 
The wonderful water power has built up 
a great hive of industries which have 
contributed to the material progress and 
prosperity of the city. 

The first mill to the erection of which 
a date can positively be fixed, was a saw- 
mill built at Valley Falls in 1740. This 
mill was altered in 1790 to an oil mill for 
the manufacture of linseed oil from flax- 
seed. Another sawmill was built in 1744 
by one Wolcott of East Windsor. It 
came into the hands of Peter Dobson, 
John Warburton, James Chapman and 
Chester King, in 1809. Peter Dobson was 
the founder of the first cotton mill in the 
town of Vernon and one of the first in 
America. A co-worker with Samuel 
Slater, the father of cotton manufactur- 
ing in this country, like him, he brought 
from England the plans from which he 
made the machinery that was used in the 
old mill. A genius in manufacturing, 
he had great difficulty in getting out of 
England. There were stringent laws in 
those days in England and skilled man- 
ufacturers were watched very closely for 
fear they would migrate. Air. Dobson 
was carefully hidden in a hogshead which 
was rolled on board ship. It was bored 
full of gimlet holes to give him fresh air. 



After the ship had gotten out some dis- 
tance he was released from his unpleasant 
and uncomfortal)le surroundings. 

Manufacturing in Rockville was first 
started at the stone mill on East Main 
street, where the new Minterburn mill 
has been erected. Early in the 18th cen- 
tury there was a sawmill there, then a 
gristmill, and finally a blast furnace and 
iron foundry, where, during the Revolu- 
tionary war, cannon balls were made and 
cannon cast from bog ore found in neigh- 
boring swamps. Subsequently there was 
a clothiers' mill established for carding 
and dressing wool finish cloth. It was 
owned b}^ one Payne, who built a house 
on East Main street, which at that time 
was regarded as the finest house in Tol- 
land county. 

The first hand loom for weaving sat- 
inets was operated in a dwelling house 
a little east of the Northwest schoolhouse 
in Vernon, which is now owned and occu- 
pied by James Campbell. Delano Abbott 
and Ebenezer Nash were the gentlemen 
who engaged in the business. They were 
given quite a start by Peter Dobson, who 
possessed unusual mechanical skill and 
ingenuity, and who built a billey and 
jenny, which were set up in an outbuild- 
ing. Mr. Abbott is undoubtedly entitled 
to the honor of introducing the manufac- 
ture of satinet in the United States. Later 
Messrs. Abbott and Nash, with Francis 
McLean, built the old "Twin" mills on 
land now owned by the Hockanum com- 
pany, on the south side of the stream. 
The "Twin" mills contained two sets of 
narrow cards and hand looms. From this 
modest beginning sprang the woolen in- 
dustries of Rockville. Truly giant oaks 
from little acorns grow. 

The real beginning of the woolen in- 
dustry in Rockville was in 1821, when 
Col. Francis AlcLean, a prominent and 
wealthy resident of Vernon, bought a 
tract of land from the Grant estate and 
built the mill now known as the Rock 
mill No. 2. standing where Mill No. 1 now 
stands. This was really the parent null, 
'i'he capital for this mill was furnished 
l,v the members of the McLean, Kellogg 
and Talcott families. .Subsequently it 
passed into the hands of the late George 
Kellogg, grandfather of the present Ma.x- 



24 



OFFICIAL I'ROCJRAM— OLD Hr)ME AVEEK. 




Hk^^^^ 



HOCKANTiM MII.I.S. 



HOCKANUM COMPANY 



ESTABI.ISHKD 181111-14, 
INCORPORATKD l»3i;. 



Manufacturers of Fine 

^ ^ Worsteds and Woolens. 



WiM. MAXWKM,, President. 

R. MAXWHLIv, Vice-President. 

K. T. MAXWELL, Treasurer. 

C. S. BOTTOMLKY, Superintendent. 



VERNON - ROCKN'ILLE CENTENNTAL CELEBRATIOX. 



WL'll hnithcrs. A little later Cdl. .McLean 
sold his interest in the Rock mill and 
bouo-ht the property where the Envelope 
mill now stands. He built a mill largely 
from the timbers of the first church in 
Vernon, which stood near Kellogg's cor- 
ners. This mill was known as the Frank 
mill, departing from custom and honor- 
ing Col. McLean's Christian name, which 
was Francis. 

Shortly after the Frank mill was start- 
ed, Alonzo Bailey of Columbia and 
Chauncey Winchell of Manchester lo- 
cated at Rockville and built a small mill 
at Springville. In 1836 Capt. .Allen Ham- 
mond, with George Kellogg, built the 
New England mill. About the same time 
Phineas and Ralph Talcott and Aaron 
and Hubbard Kellogg built the mill 
known as the Leeds mill, which is now 
the Rock mill No. 3. These early mills 
in Rockville were among the first woolen 
industries in America. They were very 
profitable and made large dividends. The 
Springville mill paid as high as 100 per 
cent one year. 

The New England mill was burned 
during the year 1841. A part of the pres- 
ent mill was erected in 1841-'42. Prior 
to this time the only goods manufactured 
were cotton warps. The New England 
mill decided to commence the manufac- 
ture of all-wool fancy "Kerseymeres," 
and had the new looms from the original 
George Crompton. It was from ]\Ir. 
Crompton that Capt. Hammond learned 
designing. The New England company's 
looms turned out the first all-wool "Fan- 
cies" made in America. 

In 1847, under the beneficent influence 
of a protective tarifi^, the Rock Manufac- 
turing company greatly enlarged its mills 
and built new mills. That year the Amer- 
ican mill was built. The new Frank mill 
was also built. These were among the 
first mills to make all-wool cassimeres in 
the United States. They were all built 
by local capital. 

The most picturesque mill in Rock- 
ville is the "Old Stone Alill," owned and 
operated by the James J. Regan Manufac- 
turing company. It furnishes one of those 
rare instances where aesthetics and man- 
ufactures may be mentioned together. 
There are few more charming views in 



pictures(|ue Rockville than that presented 
by the stone mill as one passes up .Main 
street from Central Park. This companv 
has three other mills and has undergone 
a wonderful e.xpansion and does a very 
large business, having several acres of 
floor space. 

While Rockville is noted for its wool- 
en mills, it has another distinction, which 
every city cannot Ijoast of. It has one of 
the largest envelope nianufacturing com- 
])anies in the country — the White, Corbin 
company, which concern was among the 
pioneers in the business. The first enve- 
lope machine of any account in this coun- 
try was the work of a Rockville in\'ent<ir. 
Milton G. Puffer. 

One of the earliest paper mills in Con- 
necticut was built in Rockville. It was 
erected early last century and was on the 
site now occupied by the Belding Silk 
mill. It was owned by Hale Brothers, 
proprietors of the New York Journal of 
Commerce. l*"or many years the pajjer 
upon which the New York Journal of 
Commerce was printed was furnished by 
this mill. The late J. N. Stickney, who 
married one of Mr. Hale's daughters, was 
manager of the paper mill here. 

Rockville has within its midst one of 
the finest silk mills in the country — Beld- 
ing Brothers & Co. — one of the leading 
concerns in the business world. It has 
fine mills in Belding, Mich., in Northamp- 
ton, Mass., Petaluna, Cal., and Montreal. 
P. Q., doing a business of over $6,000,000 
annually. 

The largest fishline factory in the 
country, making the famous Kingfisher 
brand of fishlines, is located in Rockville. 
The firm of K. J. Martin's Sons is known 
from one end of the country to the other. 

At present there are ten manufactur- 
ing concerns in Rockville doing business 
oil a large scale. They are for the most 
part corporations chartered by the state. 
There are, however, several smaller en- 
terprises conducted by private firms. Of 
the companies, seven are engaged in the 
manufacture of fine woolen and worsted 
goods. These arc the Hockanum, 
Springville, New England company. Rock 
^Ianufacturing comi)any, .Vmerican Mills 
company, the Jas. J. Regan company and 
the Minterburn Mills company, the infant 



2G OFFICIAL PROGRAAF— OFD HOME WEFK. 



The Vernon Woolen Co. 



E. C. HILLIARD, President. 

M. H. WHITE, Treasurer and Manager. 

Manufacturers of 

FANCY CASSIMERES OVERCOATINGS 
HAIRLINES TRICOTS, ETC. 

Incorporated in 1888 

Post Office and Telegraph Address, VERNON, CONN. 
Telephone 34-4 — Manchester. 



VERNON -ROCKVII.LE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



industry of the place in woolen manu- 
facturing, but destined to keep pace with 
its predecessors in high standard of goods 
and reputation. 

The goods of these companies exhib- 
ited at Chicago in competition with the 
best EngHsli, French and German 
makers were unhesitatingly pronounced 
by expert judges to be equal, if not su- 
perior, to any worsted goods in the man- 
ufacturing department. Thus as a result 
of this exhibition, it has been shown be- 
yond peradventure of doubt that, so far 
as quality of goods is concerned, our 
American manufacturers have -nothing to 
fear from foreign competition, and it has 
also been proved that Rockville stands 
at the very forefront, the products of its 
woolen manufacturing plants command- 
ing worldwide attention and challenging 
the admiration of expert judges in the 
woolen industr}'. 

To show the great reputation of the 
goods produced in the factories of the 
llockanum I\Iills Co., it may be said that 
they have made suits to be worn at the 
inauguration by three different presi- 
dents of the United States, the Spring- 
ville company having made the suit worn 
by President Harrison, the Hockanum 
company the suit worn by President Mc- 
Kinley, and the Springville company the 
suit worn by President Roosevelt. 

The cloth of which these dift'erent 
suits was made was sold thereafter as 
among the highest price fabrics on the 
market, and were named Inauguration 
cloth, McKinley cloth and Presidential 
cloth, respectively. 

The cloths were all similar fabrics, 
being black undressed worsted made of 
the very finest counts of yarn used in 
men's wear goods. These yarns took 
many months to produce, as they were 
from the very finest selected wool that 
could be obtained by taking the very best 
lots from an immense quantity of wool. 
The goods were London shrunk at the 
mills and were turned out with a very 
soft and beautiful finish. 

The mills of this association made the 
first men's wear goods that were pro- 
duced in this country from worsted yarn. 
The Hockanum mill has undoubted proof 
of this from testimony by yarn manufac- 



turers, that their books showed the first 
sales of worsted yarn to any men's wear 
mills were made to the Hockanum. 

The Rock Manufacturing company 
made the cloth worn by President Ben- 
jamin Harrison and Vice-President Levi 
P. Morton at the centennal celebration 
of the inauguration of George Washing- 
ton as president of the United States, in 
New York city, April 30, 1889. 

The cloth is what is known as a Clay 
Twill and w-as made from a very fine 
grade of worsted yarn. There were 6700 
ends and 112 picks of filling to the inch, 
the dye being alizarine. 

The growth of Rockville has been 
slow and substantial, rather than showy 
and meteoric. The entire population was 
less than a score of families in 1822, six 
of whom were Grants. In 1823 there were 
five families in the Rock district. In 1840 
there were six hundred inhabitants in 
the chain of little houses that clustered 
aliout the mills. Lip to the year 1841, so 
far as can be learned, the people of Rock- 
ville were accustomed to getting their 
mail at Vernon Center, which was the 
"Hub," being the only voting place in 
the town and the center of business in 
general. At this time Rockville was just 
beginning to put on its village clothes. It 
had no hotels, it had no steam roads and 
no trolle}' cars. In fact, had any one sug- 
gested to the Puritanical fathers who held 
the reins of power that in a short time, or 
in any age, there would come to Rock- 
ville a vehicle loaded down with people 
and drawn by a little wire, they would 
doubtless have trembled in their boots, 
fearing that the days of witchcraft were 
again to have a run, and a suggestion or 
an intimation that this same spectacle 
.would rumble and ding dong right past 
any house of worship on the Lord's day 
would have been met with emphatic con- 
tradiction. The polling place for the town 
was in the conference room of the Con- 
gregational church at Vernon Center, 
which was built in 1827. Every one went 
there to vote until 1856, when town and 
electors' meetings began to be held in al- 
ternate years at Rockville and Vernon 
Center. In 1865 all such meetings were 
transferred to Rockville. 



28 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




rilK l{0( KVILLE NATIOPfAL BANK, of Ifockiillc. ( (.iiiKcdViit. 



DIKErTOHS— Kiiirik (Jniiil, A. I'lirk HiiiiiinoiKl, A. \. Hcldiiii;. Frsiiuis T. Miix««ll. Williiim 

.Wiixwcll. .1. ('. IliiiiinioiKl. Jr.. ( luiilcs riulps. K. (i. KulU r. U. A. Sjkcs. 
A. Tark }|:iniiiioiiil. I'rcsidciil; Kiiink (;raii(, A icc-rnsidciit; I'. K. Hiunodd, Ciisliicr; K. II. 

Molt. Assisliinl ( iisliNr; Win. K. I'arliidur, IJookkccixr; I). M. Hcckcr. ricik. 
Ks(iil)lisli<"d is.-,.-,. I'iipital, !ii->00,0(IO. .Suil)lii!« and riofits. $!»'_».(MMI 

Our business is the safe keeping of our Deposits, and Resources in such a manner that 
they will he perfectly safe, and looking after the welfare and security of our patrons. 

We are frequently iil)le to give counsel in matters of investment, and can sometimes save 
iiinncy to customers. 

We have also a Safe Deposit department, where valuable papers, etc. can be deposited. 

We buy and sell Sterling and (Continental E.xchange; sell I^etters of Credit available in 
111! iiarts of the world: Travellers' Checks for domestic and foreign use. and transact a general 
lianUing business. 



VERNON -ROClv\- 1 LLE CEXTENNLAL CELEItRATK ).\. 



29 



In 1836 a buildinj^- was erected in 
Rockville, where the Henry l)uil<ling- now 
stands, where the first school was lo- 
cated and where the first public rclig-ioiis 
service in Rockville was held. The build- 
ing was moved and now stands near the 
Adams brick mill on East Main street. 
being the last building on the right be- 
fore crossing the stream. About 1838, or a 
little later, a Congregational church was 
erected where the Alemorial building now 
stands. It was known as the First Con- 
gregational church. 

Rev. Diodate Brockway acted as 
supply until Rev. Ansel Nash was 
installed, Jan. 30, 1839. George Kel- 
logg and Edward Hall were the first 
deacons. In 1849 the Second Congrega- 
tional church was built. It stood where 
the present Union Congregational church 
stands. There were 48 members — 29 
from the First church and 19 from other 
churches. In 1850 the Baptist denomina- 
tion built a church on West Main street. 
The building is now used by the German 
Lutheran church. A Catholic church was 
built about the same time. The brick 
schoolhouse now used as a grammar 
school was opened in 1849. The Union 
Congregational church, which is one of 
the handsomest churches in New Eng- 
land, was built in 1889, the same year as 
the 2^Iemorial building. 

The first postofifice in Rockville was 
started during the administration of Pres- 
ident John Tyler. Previous to this 
time the community had no name. It 
was made up by counting the mills and 
houses belonging to each corporation. 
There were several small localities known 
by different names, to wit.. Rock, New 
England and Stone mills. Paper mill, 
Leeds mill. Grist mill. Saw mill, Frank 
factory, Springville, Hockanum and Sax- 
ony mills. The place was commonly 
known as Rock factory. People going to 
the city from outside would say, "I am 
going to the Rock." Even to this day 
that name is used by many of the earlier 
settlers and older inhabitants. Naturally 
there was some strife before a name was 
selected. Each of the clustering villages 
around the several mills desired to ha\e 
its own name adopted. It was voted in 
public meeting, after a liricf canvass, to 



adnpt the name Rockville, after the Rock 
mill, it Ijcing the pioneer mill of the place. 

Samuel P. Rose was the first post- 
master in Rockville. He received his ap- 
pointment May 5, 1842, and it is pre- 
sumed that previous to his appointment, 
for a year or more at least, the mail had 
been brought from Vernon and distrib- 
uted by him. The postoft'ice was located 
hi a store kept by Mr. Rose, in a build- 
ing which stood nearly opposite the John- 
son building, on what is now Central 
Park. George Talcott. now president of 
the First National bank, was a clerk for 
a while. In 1844 the Moore building was 
erected, which stood next to the present 
Methodist church on the site of the Me- 
morial building, and for some time pre- 
vious to its being ])ulled down was occu- 
pied by Carroll & McDonnell. This 
building was occupied by Sanniel P. Rose 
and Edward McLean, and it is presumed 
that the post office was kept here for a 
brief period, as Mr. Rose's appointment 
did not expire until June 4, 1845. 

The second postoffice was opened in a 
house owned by Minerva Stewart. Her 
father, who was a democrat, was the sec- 
ond postmaster. Democrats in Rockville 
in those days were few and far between. 

John Brown, "Old John Brown," of 
Ossawattamie fame, the forerunner C)f 
freedom for the black man in the United 
States, immortalized in song and story, 
who sacrificed his life for violating the 
law, but in a just cause, at least so con- 
sidered from a northern standpoint, 
whose conduct at Harper's' Ferry proved 
that he had the stuff that heroes are made 
of in him, and made his name a househokl 
word all through the North, was asso- 
ciated with the business interest of Rock- 
ville in its early days. He was a frequent 
visitor in Rockville, being a wool buver 
in his early days. There are people now 
living in Rockville who recall him and 
who were acquainted with him when he 
came to the city to sell wool. A. Park 
Hammond and J. C. Hammond. Jr., are 
among the number. The latter had in 
his [losscssion until recently a letter and 
a receipt for money in Brown's handwrit- 
ing. I'rovvn purchased wool for the old 
.\'cvv iMigland comjiany wdien George 
Kellogg (Uncle George) was agent. Tin- 



30 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




JfUirt-tL 



COMPLIMENTS OF 

THE J. J. REGAN MFG. CO. 



VERNON - R()CK\ILL[-: CENTENNIAL CI'.EICI'.RA'IK )N. 



31 



company had the utiimst cniifidence in 
his honesty and advanced him money 
with which to purchase wool in the West. 
On one occasion $2,800 was placed in his 
hands for the purpose and the receipt for 
the same was in Mr. Hammond's posses- 
sion for a great many years and is prob- 
ably somewhere among his belongings 
today. 

Brown was also connected with a Bos- 
ton firm dealing in cattle. On the occa- 
sion of furnishing the $2,800 to Mr. 
Brown, he became somewhat financially 
involved and in a somewhat tight place 
generally ; consec|uently the company 
never fully recovered the amount. Mr. 
Brown wrote a letter explaining the sit- 
uation. This letter, which came into Mr. 
Hammond's possession, is dated at Frank- 
lin Mills, Aug. 27, 1839, and is directed 
to "George Kellogg, Esq., agent of New 
England ^Manufacturing company, Ver- 
non, Connecticut." This, it will be seen, 
was before there was any postoffice in 
Rockville. 

The letter is written on a piece of un- 
ruled paper nearly the size of a sheet of 
foolscap. Envelopes were not used at 
that time and the letter bears the marks 
of the prevailing style of folding and also 
the wafer and the marks of the letter 
seal on the wafer. The figures 25 are 
doubtless the amount of the postage, 
which is somewhat higher than the pres- 
ent day certainly. The letter was dated 
about four days before mailing, which 
may be assumed to be due to the further 
limited postal facilities of those times. 

In the letter, Air. Brown humbles him- 
self and the whole sentiment is that of 
regret at being unable to pay at that time 
and a promise of doing all in his power 
to liquidate. The New England company 
never bore any ill will against the man 
for his failure, but held him in high es- 
teem. It may be said further to the 
credit of Mr. Brown that in his will he 
left the sum of $50 for the comi)any. 

.\. Park Hammond con\-eyed .Mr. 
jjrown to Hartford by team when he was 
here. 

The l)ell on the old l''irsl church in 
Rockville was tolled out of resjject to 
John Brown at the time he was lianged 



by Governor Wise of Charleston, Vir- 
ginia, Dec. 2, 1859. 

To understand what we are today we 
need to go back to the toils and hardships 
of our ancestors. It is well for us in 
imagination to turn back the dial of time 
and stand where our fathers stood. If 
we incjuire for the cause of the supremacy 
of Rockville, it will be found in the pur- 
poses and deeds of men, who in wisdom 
laid their ])lans, overcame obstacles and 
made the place worthy of the attention 
given it. It was not a favorable situation 
alone nor any single industry (although 
woolen has done much for the city), that 
inspired its growth in its earh' days, but 
a number of intelligent, persevering, far- 
seeing men, who worked with stout 
hearts and liy their earnest purpose laid 
the foundations of prosperity for the town 
and city. Only by a painstaking self- 
denial and the e.xercise of great sagacity 
was success attained. The inlluence of 
the fathers had much to do with inspir- 
ing the changes which has made Rock- 
ville a conspicuous city. Brief mention 
has been made of a few of these men. 
There are others who should not be for- 
gotten, however, among the number be- 
ing the Kellogg brothers, Nathaniel (). 
(Cncle George), and .\llyn ; Capt. Allen 
Hammond and George Maxwell, (ieorge 
Svkes and William H. Prescott also de- 
serve a place on the honor roll. .Ml of 
these have jjassed awa\'. 

Among those now li\ing. no one 
man has done more for the town 
than Hon. Francis T. .Maxwell, son of 
the late (icorge .Maxwell. He is acti\-ely 
identified with the manufacturing, finan- 
cial, social and religious interests of the 
community, and in every respect is a 
worthy successor to his beloved and la- 
mented father. Vew men are better or 
more favorably known about the state, 
lie is the ideal citizen and a pillar of 
w hich any community may well be proud. 

".\ city that is set on a liill cannot be 
hid." Rockville is set. niit upon a 
single hill, or seven hills, like ancient 
Rome, but upon a series of hills. Its sit- 
uation is striking an<l unique. Located 
in the highlands of Tolland county, it 
(i\erlooks the famous Connecticut valley 
and presents a panorama of some of the 



32 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OFD HOME WEEK. 



THE AMERICAN MILLS COMPANY 

(ESTABLISHED 1847.) 




IHH .\MKKICAN .MILLS. 




-^ <- 






Geo. Talcott, Pres. 



C. N. McLean, Treas. 



Ed. F. Badmington, Supt. 



MANUFACTURERS OF FINE FANCY WORSTEDS AND KERSEYS FOR 
MEN'S WEAR: ALSO HIGH GRADE STANDARD AND 
FANCY CARRIAGE CLOTHS. 



\'KR\()N - R( )CK\1LL1-: CEXTEXXIAl, rKLFJ'.RATIi >\ 



:}3 



most charming landscape scenery to he 
found in New England. From the top 
of Fox hill, which is 693 feet above the 
sea level, a magnificent view not only of 
the city, but of the country for miles 
around, is obtained. It is one of the 
many spots no visitor should neglect. The 
upper part of North Park street also fur- 
nishes a delightful prospect. With a good 
glass, Mt. Tom. ]\It. Holyoke, the state 
capitol at Hartford and numerous towns 
and villages can be seen. There are beau- 
tiful drives and good roads. There are 
trolley lines running to Hartford, Spring- 
field and Stafford Springs, and through 
fast service from Hartford to Boston is 
expected before a great while, but a few 
links remaining to be connected. The 
city is halfway between New York and 
Boston. It has the best drinking water 
in the state and a modern gas and electric 
service. Its people are happy because 
healthy, the place being one of the most 
healthful communities in the state. 

The daily wants of Rockville are sup- 
plied by over one hundred stores, shops 
and markets. There are numerous sub- 
stantial and handsome business blocks, 
and for a community of its size, there are 
few, if any, that can l)oast of so many 
costly and magnificent residences. There 
are three parks, and a feature that speaks 
well for the community is the fact that 
a large percentage of the jioople own their 
own homes. 

The city has two national banks with 
deposits of $700,000, doing a yearly Inis- 
iness of $23,273,800: two savings banks 
with deposits of $3,407,000. a building and 
loan association with assets of $110,000, 
a weekly pay.roll of $25,000. The assessed 
valuation of the property is $6,021,096. 
and a yearlv freight business of 80,000 
tons is 'done'. There are eight churches, 
three church or parochial schools, twenty- 
three graded public schools, with free text 
books, teaching music, manual training 
and sewing, besides the regular courses. 
The high school building was completed 
in 1893 at a cost of $40,000. 'llie parochial 
school building, which was completed 
about the same time, cost about the same. 
The schools are famous for their high 
grade and efficiency. The public library, 
which is an imposing buililing, enhancmg 



the beauty and adding to the attractive- 
ness of Union street, where it is located, 
contains over 10,000 volumes. It is a 
gift to the city by the ]\Iaxwe!l family as 
a memorial to George IMaxwell. There 
is a reading room in connection with the 
library. The church buildings are mod- 
ern and attractive. Uifion church, which 
was built in 1889 at a cost of $75,000, and 
the new St, Bernard's Roman Catholic 
church, which took the place of the one 
destroyed by fire and which is not wholly 
completed yet, are as handsome churches 
as can be found in any comnumity. Rock- 
ville's Memorial hall, erected by the town 
in 1889 in memory of the soldiers and 
sailors who fought in the Civil war, is a 
structure of character and dignitj'. It 
has an elegant puljlic hall capable of seat- 
ing 1,000 persons. The building contains 
the rooms of Burpee post, G. A. R., the 
city offices, the town offices, the police 
court room, the Superior court room, the 
bar library and other public rooms. 

A city hospital, made j^ossible by the 
Prescott family, William H. Prescott hav- 
ing given $50,000 before his death, and 
the family having contributed the site, 
will be a reality in a few years. It will 
supply a long felt want and bring joy to 
all hearts. The magnificent generosity 
of the Sykes family, which insures a 
manual training school, is referred to 
elsewhere. Very few cities with a popu- 
lation of 9,000 can boast of a trio of such 
magnificent and at the same time prac- 
tical gifts as a free public library, a man- 
ual training school and a city hospital. 
Surelv these are splendid monuments of 
the nnhlc-mindedness of the living and 
the dead, unmistakable evidence of pri- 
vate munificence. The wealth acquired 
bv honest industry flows back in a stream 
of beneficence when its possessors realize 
their obligations to u.se their wealth as a 
trust for the benefit of others, and such 
beneficence appears in Rockville in the 
gifts of the .Maxwell, Sykes and Prescott 
families. 

Vernon (Rockville) has indeed reason 
to be proud of her record at the end of 
lier first century. .\ wonderful change 
has come to the' c|uiet little hamlet of an 
hundred years ago. Then there were 
seven hun'dred souls, mostly Yankee far- 



34 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Manufacturer of Frames 
Mouldings and Mirrors. 


Mirrors and Regilding 
A Specialty. 




Established Thirty-Two Years 


H. 


H. WILLBS, 




ART STORE. 


Oil Paintings and 
Engravings, Etchings, 
Water Colors, Pastels. 


j.^-N_j Jobber of Glass 
\j_^ and Mirrors. 


No. 1013 Main Street, Hartford, Conn. 


Special Prices and Contracts 
Made on Large Orders. 


Wholesale and Retail. China and Materials 
Telephone 102-6. for China Painting. 



I AGREE WITH YOU . . . . i^^T^ 

BOOST THE CENTENNIAL. 5^ 



Special PRICES for Cloth Lettering 

FOR OLD HOME WEEK. 



Order EARLY to AVOID the RUSH. 

Carnage, Sleigh, Sign and Auto Paintmg. 

Special attention j^iven to 

AUTOMOBILES anu SIGIV >VORIv. 



C. E. LUDWIG, 



12 ORCHARD STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



VERNON - RQCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEllRATION. 



35 



mors, Init a few manufacturers. Today 
N'eriHMi is nine thousand strong-, with a 
reputation for manufacturing that extends 
far and wide, and reaching the high-water 
mark of excellence, being first in the 
states in the manufacture of the finest 
worsted and woolen goods, silk fishlines 
and spool sewing silks, the home of the 
Hockanum worsteds, Belding silks, King- 
fisher silk fishlines, and the parent mill 
of the United States Envelope company. 
The city operates eight hundred looms, 
thirty-five thousand spindles and five hun- 
dred braiders. Three thousand and three 
hundred hands are employe<l, willi ;i 
weekly payroll of $25,000, and a xearlv 
output of 1,200,000 yards of cloth. if 
the change is great today, think what it 
will be in an hundred vears fmm now! 



The secret of Rockville's prosperity is not 
dilTicult to solve. The great woolen fac- 
tories are in Rockville today because their 
owners or their fathers have made their 
money in Rockville and are loyal to Rock- 
\ille. Surely Rockville lives up to her 
name, the "Loom City," a city in which 
its looms of industry are building honest 
riches; a city whose hills loom into the 
regions of pure air and invigorating 
health, crowned by good old New Eng- 
land homes in which abide industry and 
integrity ; a city whose achievements in 
all the ])ursuits of life and wdiose contri- 
huti(ins to the state and nation loom high 
in the estimation of the American broth- 
erhood of municipalities. This is Rock- 
ville on this centennial — the "Loom 
Citv." .. 




TIUI'LE STKEETS. SHOWIXi ST, 



»EI{\A1!I»S IEI{I«.V<E. .>II1>1»I.K liOAlt A M> lASl 
MAIN STliKET. 



36 



OFFICIAL I'RO(;RA^[— OLD lIo.MI': WI^I'.K. 



CHEAP FUEL ANYWHERE 
IN ROCKVILLE 



IF YOU 



Wr 



% 



COOK 



WITH 



GAS.. 



m 



A Bright, Cheerful Home and an Up-to-date 
BUSINESS HOUSE 



IF YOU 



Light With Electricity 



ROCKVILLE GAS cS: ELECTRIC COMPANY, 

"DISIM^LLKRS OF DARKNESS." 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CEXTENXI Al. CELEBRATION. 




CHARLES PHELPS, 
President of General Committee for Ver- 
non Centennial Celebration. 




THOMAS F. NOOME, 
Vice-President Vernon Centennial Cele- 
bration Committee and Chairman of 
Committee on Public Exercises. 




J. C. HAMMOND, JR. 
Secretary, Member Committee 
on Decorations and Member of Com- 
mittee on Historical Address, 
Events and Relics. 



38 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



McNeil & Conway, 

GROCERIES 

AND 

PROVISIONS 

Fruits and Vegetables 
in Their Season. 

Fine Teas and Coffees 
a Specialty. 



Buy the Uuited States Brand of 
Cr.ciied Goods and have the best. 



12 MARKET STREET. 

'Phone 46-12. 



IF I\ WANT <»F AWTHIXi IN THK 

Tea, Coffee, Grocery 
and Pro\ ision Line, 

I,(inc vol I! (HiltKHS AT 

BEINHAUER'S, 

(OK. vii,i.A(;k iiiKi \\\nit sis 
Ai,s(» A Ki i>i, mm; ov 

Fruits and Vegetables 

IN si:ls(»\ 

TKI,. (AM,. 



Do 


You Know 




That 


rvi 


innn violins 


11 


l<|<ll BOWS 6. 


MJ L 


M.\i.\\J STRINGS 




Are tlie Choice 




of A r t i s t .s 




Throughout 




the 




World. 




? 


Roc 


cville's Well-Kuowu 




Violinist, 


George Peter Wendlieiser, | 


Also 


Recommends Them. 




'NUF SAID. 



Charles A. Davis, 

No. 8 DAVIS AVE. 

Livery and Feedin? Stables. 



iSrsSES Kl UNISIIKI) TO ( AHKV rAHTIKS. 

i;i »HEI{-TH{KI» 1!A( KS KOI{ >VEI>l>IN(;s. 

I TNEKALS. ET(. 

MOVING CAREFULLY DONE. 

BEST SANK I I HNISIIEK EOI{ All. 

rnn'osEs. 

rii(in<> (->4-'> 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIOX. 



39 




FRED WOODHALL, 

Assistant Secretary of General Commit- 
tee, Member of Committees on 
Decorations and Sports. 




PARLEY B. LEONARD, 

Treasurer General Committee Member of 
Committee on Reception and Invita- 
tions, Chairman Board of Select- 
men Town of Vernon. 




FRANCIS B. SKINNER, 

Member of the Committees on Sports, 

Transportation ; Present Town Clerk 

of the Town of Vernon. 




GEORGE FORSTER, 

Member of Committees on Reception and 

Invitations, Sports, Public Safety, 

Mayor of the City of Rockville. 



40 



r)FFICIAL PROr.RAAr— ( »rj) HoAII' \\'EEK. 



Hugh Kernan, 

DEALER IN 

WOOD. 



^ 



WOOD OF ALL KINDS FURNISHED IN 
AM LLXJTH AND DELIVKRED IN LAROE 
OH SMALL LOTS. 

TEAMIN(i AND .nOVI\(J DONE TO OltDKH. 



^ 



52 Grove St., 



Rockville, Conn. 



Arno M. Weber, 



Dciilcr ill 

ENA1IELED. TIN. (JLASS AND AVOODEN 

WAKE. DIfY AND FAN( V (;00DS. 

(TTLERV. (ROCKERY. OIL 

CLOTH. SILVER- 

P L A T E D 

WARE. 

TOYS. NOTIONS. NOVELTIES, 

LADIES' AND (JENTS* FURNISHINGS. 
TOIiA( CO. ('<»NFE( TIONEin. 

FIVE AND TEN-CENT (JOODS. 
S( IIOOL Sri'l'LIES. SOUVENIR FOST-CAIiDS 
HEADQUAIJTEHS FOR HOLIDAY 
(JOODS, ETC. 

Tflf|ilioii«' Couiii'ctions. 



102 West Main St , Rockville 



Prfsidt'ut Vict'-Presidciit 

WM. BUTLER GEO. TALCOTT 

;", Seerctarj- and TrciisHi-cr 

A. T. BISSELL 

Savings Bank of Rockville 

KOCKVJLLE, CONN. 
. Iii('iii'])oi'!iU'd 1858 
'I'iMistees 

H. GARDNER TALCOTT 

E. G. BUTLER 



WM. BUTLER 

GEORGE TALCOTT 

H. L. JAMES 

.1. C. HAMMOND, JR. 

A. R. GOODRICH 

A. T. BISSELL 

E. L. HEATH 

WM. MAXWKLL 

FHINIOAS M. TALCOTT 

ANDREW KINGS HURY 

l)(')i()sit!s coiiiiiiciicc 
diij's of .Isiiiiiiiry, .Vjiril, .Inly iind October. 

Dividends are |iayal)le on the tirst days of 
A|>ril and (h-tolier. The rale of difidend notv 
paid is t Iter eent. 

11ANKL\(! HOURS: 
From !l a. mi. Io I.:i0 \t. iii. 

Satnrilajs '.) ». in. to 12 ni. 
.)l Hilda V and Friday E\eniiius. 7 to S.:tO. 



DAVID A. SYKES 

JASPER A. FITCH 

L. T. TINGIER 

P. B. LEONARD 

F. SWINDELLS 

HALSEY L. ALLEN 

F. T. MAXWELL 

C. A. THOMPSON 

interest on the tirst 



Art Perfected is the 
\\^)rk of Genius: : 



WE ARE PliEI'ARED TO DO ALL KINDS 
OF PIIOTO(;i{APIII( WORK. ItOTH IN THE 
STUDIO AND l\ vol U (»WN HO.MF. 

WE HAVE PLEASED OTIIEHS: WE (AN 
PLEASE YOU. MAKE AN APPOINT.AIENT 
TODAY. 



McKINSTRV, 

PHOTOGRAPHER. 



NKVV CHENEY BLOCK, 



South Manchester, 

Tier.. l.->7 



Conn. 



VERNON -ROCK\TLI.E CENTKNXIAI. CEIJ-nRATroX. 




FRANCIS T. MAXWELL, 

Chairman of Finance Committee and 

Member of Committee on Historical 

Addresses, Events and Relics. 




FRANCIS A. RANDALL, 

Chairman of Advertising, Publicity anj 

Printing Committee, Secretary of 

Finance Committee, Member 

of Committee on Licenses 

and Privileges. 





DAVID A. SYKES, 

Member of Committee on Public Exer- 
cises and Committee on Licenses 
and Privileges. 



JOHN W. HEFFERON, 

Member of Committees on Finance and 

Public Exercises and Chief of Rock- 

ville Fire Department. 



42 OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



V CPMOM CRIlA/WCPY COMI^AMY. 



MA\UrACTLIRCr^5 OV' 

rA/WOUS VEPNON BUTTr_R. 




THE ACME OF PERFECTION. 

NONE BETTER MADE. 

AWARDED SILVER MEDAL AT PARIS EXPOSITION. 

TAKEN FIRST PREMIUMS WHEREVER EXHIBITED. 



/M.rPliD O. TUPai L, President. A. W. ANNI5, .Si iix^rinfc latent. 

171 IIK.II STPIzHT, I^OCKVILLE, CONN. 
Tclc|)hone 12. 



WENDHEISER'S MUSIC STORE. ^s^^^y-^^d ^S89 

(iEORGE PETER WENDHEISER. 
Occupyiufi TWO FLOORvS of the DOANE BLOCK, Corner Main and Market Streets. 
ONLY MUSIC STORE in ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



(I>: Very few cities ttie size of ROCKVILLE, and even larger, can boast of having such 
a finely equipped and UP-TO-DATE MUSIC STORE. The fact of our being coni- 
jjelled to add more room each year is proof that the GOOD PEOPLE of Rocl^- 
ville and the adjoining TOWNS appreciate the way we conduct our business, and 
encourage OUR EFFORTS with their SUBSTANTIAL PATRONAGE. 
Ol'R AIM is to supply only the VERY BEST GRADES of MUSICAL INSTRU- 
MENTS and at the LOWEST PRICES. It will be easy for us to convince you of 
our ability to do this if you will call. Remember that a GOOD NAME is something 
to RELY upon nowadays, and the WENDHEISER NAME has STOOD for HON- 
ESTY and INTEGRITY before the ROCKVILLE PUBLIC for the PAST FIFTY 
YEARS. Every PROMISE made HAS BEEN KEPT. (Thank you for your kind 
attention.) 

jm;s: 

IMA.NO.S— Pliiycr I'iiinos. riiino rii!.v< rs (»|{(;A>S. 
VI(;T<M! TALKIXJ .>rA(HIM;S. Vl< roif l{i:( OHII.S; Kiconl (nl.iiHts. 
E1)IS(».\ I'H(»\<M;I{AI'IIS. KKISON lfi:((>l{llS: \ ((.miiUtt- Sf<Kk. 
.Sheet .Miisie; All the roiTI-AH Ml SI< at I7e :i etipj, :( Copies .'.(le. 
I he .MeKiiiley Kdifioii of l(»e Music. 
'I'lie ('<'n(nr.v Kdition of Kle .Music. 

The Schiriuer l.ilinirj of ( hissical Music. 
Siiiiill liistiutueiits Aiiythiim from :i .IKWSIIAIU' to a IJA.SS FIDDLK. 
Piano Tuninu Kepiirtnient in ( har«e ol KXTEKTS; TRY THEM. 
AWTIIIX; AMI EVKKVTHINC; .MUSICAL. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



43 




GEORGE P. WENDHEISER, 
Member of Committee on Advertisin| 
Publicity and Printing, Public Exer- 
cises, Licenses and Privileges. 




FRANCIS J. REGAN, 

Member of Committees on Public Safety 

and Transportation. 




HARRY C. SMITH, 

Secretary Committee on Advertising, 
Publicity and Printing. 




C. D. TALCOTT, 

Treasurer Finance Committee for Vernon 
Centennial Celebration. 



44 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Thomas Lutton, 

BOTTLING 
WORKS 



The finest Make of Soda and Seltzer 
Water to be found in the City. 
Order.s for Picnic, Dances, Etc.. 
Ktc, Promptly Delivered. 



Windermere Ave. 



SINGER. 

Wheeler & Wilson 
Sewing Machines. 



The latest Improved and Lightest 
Running Machines on the market. 



Sold for Cash or Installments. 



Try a Singer and you will have ut 

other. Lady Demonstrators for 

all machines sold. 



Singer Store, 

H7 UNION S'fklUvT, 
Tel. ri-)-i. Rau's I'.lock, 

P. H. REiNMUTH, Mi;r. Rockville, Conw. 



Orren C. West, 



DEALER IN 



SHENIPSIT 
leE 



¥ 



13 Mountain Street, 
Rockville, - - Conn. 



Strong & Co., 



Ret;iii Dealers in 

MEATS, 
!\)ultr\ and ProMSions. 

W INDSOR AVENUE. 

N. R. — I make a Specialt>' of 
HOMI'; l)Rl{SSp;i) POLLTRV. 

Telephone Connection. 



VERNON -ROCKVTLLE CEXTENXIAL CELFJ'.RATION. 



45 




A. B. PARKER, 

Member of Committees on Historical 
Addresses, Events and Relics, Invi- 
tations and Reception. 





H. H. WILLES. 

Member of Transportation and Public 

Safety Committees. 



CHARLES BACKOFEN. 

Treasurer of Committee on Advertising, 

Publicity and Printing. 




PAUL BRACHE. 

Member of the Committee on Transporta- 
tion, Member of Board of Selectmen 
Town of Vernon. 



46 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



A J. CAVANAUGH F. H. Bl'RKR 

Cavanaugh & Burke 

Dealers in 

FURNITURE, 



Bedding, Carpets, Draperies, 
Curtains, Fixtures, Etc. 



30 East Main St., Rockville, Conn. 



EMBALMERS and UNDERTAKERS- 




Tablets. Monuments. Markers 

Mausoleums. Latest Desiens. Vaults. 

Hartford Monumental Works, 

r I i!ki-:i:n-, vi,,],. 

COR. MAIN AND WINDSOR STS., HARTFORD. CONN. 

Represented by J. K. H.WUKN. 

Telephone Conn. la Webster St., Rockville. Conn. 

Send to J. F. Havden for Catalog. 




Sparkling 
New England Beer 

Is brewed in a large sanitary brewery 
where every attention is given to the 
brewing of pure healthful Beer. 

It's a tonic and a food — gives new life 
and strength to the whole system. 

The New England 
Brewing Co., 

HARTFORD, . CONN. 



To the Particular Man! 
You Want the Best, 
Don't You? 

One trial will coiuince \ou thai 
ours i.s the place to get it. 

Highest grade work at reasonable 
prices. 

Try us for results. 

Sanitary Laundry 

Arthur D. Schlaf & Co. 
24 Market St., Rockville, Conn. 

Call. Tel. 5-5. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CEXTENNIAE CELEBRATION. 



47 




CHARLES N. McLEAN. 

Member of the Committee on Public 
Safety. 




MORITZ KEMNITZER, 
Member of Committee on Public Exer- 
cises and Chief Marshal for Military 
and Civic Parade. 




JOHN E. FAHEY, 
Judge of Probate. 




GEO. W. RANDALL, 
Postmaster. 



48 



OFl'ICIAL rRn(,R\.M -(il.D HOME WJCI-.K. 



F. \V. BRADLEY 



DKALKR IN 

An Kinds of LUMBER 

SHINGLES, CLAPBOARDS, LATHS, ETC 
LIME, CEMENT, SAND AND GRAVEL 



Office and Mills, ig Grove Street, 

^ocliville, Conn, 



THrCKINCi. 

Stables, 1 14 East Main Street. 



TELEPHONE 



Snow Hardw are Co. 



Successor to OTIS SNOW 



HARDWARE. CUTLERY, BICYCLES, SPORTING GOODS, PAINTS, 
OILS AND FARMING IMPLEMENTS AND SUPPLIES. 

STORE, 36 UNION STREET, . . ROCKVILLE, CONN. 




BUICK 

MODEL 10 

Price $1)00 

Complete witli 3 Oil 
Lamps, Cjenerator, 
(i as Headlights, 
Horn and Repair 
Outfit. 4 C\linder 
Shaft Drive 



GARAGE, 3 1 ELM STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

AUTOMOBILE STORAGE, REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES, 

BUICK Al'TOMOBILE AGENCY. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



49 



11 






=^?T 




"FIBE KIJiG," FAMOrS OLD HAND ENGINE, WHRH TOOK A ( ONSPKIOIS 
THE EARLY FIIJE-FIGHTING DAYS I> ROCKVILLE. NOW THE 
PROPERTY OF PAWTUXET FIREMEN. 



'AIM IN 



"Fire King," the old liand engine, is insei)aral)ly a.s.sociated with the early hi.s- 
tory of Rockville. An entire chapter might well be written on firefighting days be- 
fore the war. Older residents recall them. They were days that will live long in 
memory— different than the firefighting days of this modern age, and when con- 
trasted with these days, bringing vividly before us the wonderful changes time lias 
wrought in firefighting methods. Electric wires were unheard of then. It was huig 
power, and the man who could •■holler" the loudest was the best fellow. This 
would start the mill bells going, and the noise by these combined flesh and brass 
alarms was something to strike terror to every inhabitant. Did any one sleep 
through these noises? Well, hardly, and almost everybody not sick in bed was out 
to the fire, regardless of wind or weather. 

There were no prosecutions for "ringing in" false alarms then, for no false alarms 
were given, taking a strict view of the matter. What matter if a few packing boxes 
or tar barrels did get ablaze in some mysterious manner? There were no tramps 
about in those days to lav the cause to. And it was the people who saw these fires 
and imagined some house on fire who gave the alarm, and with good intentions. 
Xobody\o blame. Hesides there was no expense when the department was called 
out onlv occasionallv wounded feelings. The remuneration the fire laddies received 



50 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



McPHAIL PIANOS 



SEVENTY -YEARS 
MADE ON HONOR 
SOLD ON MERIT. 



Have received over 50 awards of gold and silver medals in 
competition with the world's best makes of pianos. 

There are over 20,000 of these instruments in the homes of 
the best musical people of Boston and vicinity, and they 
are endorsed bv musicians of national reputation. 



GEORGE PETER WENDHEISER, 

Fac/ory Represenfafhe For 
ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY, 



Corner Main and Market Streets, 



ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



\VILLI.A.M A. AGARD, President. 

Open a Bank Account and Watch 
it grow by depositing with the 

Savings Bank of Tolland. 

T\ 5cif(\ Strong ciiul Souiul hLstirurioi\. 

Deposits $275,000.00 

Surplus and Profits 30,000.00 
Rate of Dividend 4% 

Special Attention given to P>:uiking- 1.)\- 
Mail. Thi.s bank has gone to a very largc 
expense iu adopting a system of Private 
Auxiliary Banks, in Order to take care of 
the small savings of all classes of People. 
Why not get one of these banks for \onr- 
self or children. 

Send us a Postal card re((uest or come 
to the bank yourself. 



FRANK T. NEWCOMB, Treasurer. 



tSvliffiii'ii iic cm liinito oiif imioirr i^onf iniJ 

Savings Bank of Tolland. 

liiiu- )"id)cvo, fliu-fc luib friiftiiic v^iiftitiitinii. 



Dcpositim S57j.O0D 

llcbcvsfl)iui; u. pvofitc oO.OOO 



Spfilrllr iHufmnfjaniti'U luirb bnii i^iuif uirvni 
pi'v >J.HHit iiruiiJunt. Ciric iMUif \w cuu- lu'tioiitfiitir 
'.JliKMiiUu- (ivinnilit, iim biu^ *J.<viiuiti' iHUirji.U'icii oiiiiii 
Iniriieii, inii Mo flciitcu tSripcnniic iilli'v flaficii ^^■ •i^c 
luiltfvuiui ill ^l'polli^•cll. aiMiriiiii iiulit fin S^iiutloiitf 
tiir 5u' otin- ,^U)Vf .«iiibi'v frbffiini. 

■J[lfari]i'ii Sic cm C'V'iuil) per tHil'iUutc D^r^ loin 
men v2ic icibft unil) bfv t\\n\. 



VERNON - ROCKX^ILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATIOX. 



for yankins the (.1.1 hand engine over the rough streets and u]) and down the steep 
hills was the leelinL; that they had done their duty. The engines burned no coal and 
there were no tire police to pa\^ 

To speak of the Rockville fire department in the days of long ago without calling 
attention to the "false alarms" would be considered a high crime misdemeanor, to 
use the words of an old German professor. Of these "false alarms" it is only 
necessary to mention one. It was the king of them all, however. There are some 
here in our midst today who remember it, and there are some here, too, who dare 
insinuate that there are those here who could tell, by practical experience, the ins 
and outs of that false alarm. At that time there was no common council to ])ay a 
detective for looking up the criminal's. Indeed, there was no ordinance relative 
to the matter. A lesson may have been learned from that incident, however, as 
it may be proper to assume that one or more of those "alarm ringers" may have 
seen service in the city council and had a hand in framing the present ordinance. 

P.ut now for the false alarm which has gone into history, mostly unwritten, per- 
haps. It was not long after old "I-"ire King" had been purchased. The members 
of the fire department then were the first men of the village. They were proud of 
belonging to the department, too. At that time the Saxony pond was quite large. 
The mills all made their own gas and one man suggested that some of it must have 
run out into the stream. Be that as it may, one awfully stormy night, a night 
hardly fit for a human being to be out of doors, the snow piled two feet on the 
level, the old-fashioned alarm "rung out" on the snowy air. "Fire King" boys, ever 
ready for a contest, were onto their job, to use a somewhat slang term. They ran, 
tugged, pulled and puffed away for a weary mile — the longest mile they had been 
up against in all their experience — and lo and behold! what did they find? A blaze 
from a huge pile of tar barrels, boxes, etc. on the further corner of the pond. Those 
with an\- imagination can readily picture how these men felt and acted. Human 
nature is human nature the world over. It wasn't any different then than it is to- 
dav. Were they sore, were they angry ? Well, it's quite likely they were. They 
ra\ed (never swore of course), and vowed eternal vengeance on the perpetrators 
of the joke. One or two of the recognized leaders in the afl:'airs of the town, who 
were looked upon as pillars in the community, held high their purses in the air. 
They were anxious to give large sums in rewards for the detection of the offenders 
against the sacredne.ss yf Rockville's fire system. .\ wise headed man, however, 
put his hand upon the benevolent chami)ions of law and order, and suggested: "I 
wouldn't do it, Capt. ; it might possibly hit too near home." 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM—OLD HOME WEEK. 



One of the Best Attractions for 




Old Home Week 
Centennial Celebration 



For tliciWiiii or IJoy «lio is liiokiiiii' to lie Mcll Dressed will lie found in the Fine l>ine 
of Clothing'. Fnrnishinu'N. Huts, taps. Trunks and Baas. Fte., at Our .Store. 

Buy Dependable Cloths. 

The QUALITY slionid lie a matter lor Careful < onsi<I<'ratioii. The inexperieneed jierson 
has little eoneeption as tti how nmeli depends on »drlvnianship. This liein«- so. eonld joti 
nse better judgnient than to trade «ith a honse as well and favorably known as this onej We 
cannot sell jon a !|il."i.00 Suit for $N.Os, nor can any one else, honestly; hnt we will sell you 
the best clotliinia: we can liny at the very lowest prices we can, rijihtly, and on this liasis 
solicit your trade. >Ve can and will sell the same ifuality goods lower than you can bny in 
Hartford. LOOK FN AND .SEF US, 






Clothes to Measure. 

We Make A Specialty of These* 

We will make you a Suit from our Finest ISockville Worsteds (>'o better Domestic 
Woolens in this country), at !|!21,.»0; same as Tailors charge from $30 to $'i'>. GIVE US A 
CALL AIND SFF SOME IJEAUTIFUL WOOLENS, 

THIS IS THE LEADIXO UEPRESEXTA IT VE STOKE. EVERTTHIISiJ THE BEST. 

Yours 'Respectfully, 

F. M. BRIGHAM. 

5 Elm Street, Rockvillet Conn. 



VERNON -ROCKYILr.E CENTRNNIAI. CELERRATIOX. 



53 




HON. E. STEVENS HENRY, 
Serving his 7th Term as Member of Congress from 1st Congressional District, has 
Held Numerous Town. City and State Offices. Actively Identified with the 
Business Life of the Town Over Quarter of a Century Ago. Treas- 
urer of People's Savings Bank and One of the State's Promi- 
nent Financiers. Prominent in Agriculture. 



54 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



E H. PRESTON, 



DEALER IN- 
ALL KINDS OF 



Furniture, Carpets, Rugs, Oil Cloth, 
Shades, Etc., Etc. .^ ^ ^^ -.^ 



FUNERAL A FULL LINE OF 

r)TDp(^"rQD Funeral Supplies 






Always in Stock. 



PROMPT SERVICE. 



POPULAR PRICES. 



E. H. PRESTON, 

PARK STREET, ROCKVILLE. 



Let ME Furnish Your Home 
or Any Fart of it. 



Lettering done with pneumatic tools 



We do all kinds of cemetery work 




AS YEARS 
ROLL ON 



The memorial which should mark 
the resting place of some beloved ..^J 
one is yet to be erected. 

Why delay longer, we can furnish you with an appropriate monument or headstone in 
any kind of granite or marble. 




C. B. RAU, 



87 Union Street, 



ROCKVILLE 



CHAS. R. RAU, 

87 UNION STREET, 



CONTRACTOR AND BUILDlvR 
OK ALL KINDS OF 



STONE AND CEMENT WORK. ARTIFICIAL 
STONE AND SIDEWALK WORK A SPECIALTY 

ROCKVILLE, CONN. 




WAFFLK" TAVEin. FIKST HOTEL IN THE TOV.N OK VEHNON. I'.l III i'ltlUK TO THE 
KEVOLl'lIOX. NOW 0«>ED A>D 0( ( IPIEH IfV MU. AND 
MRS. L. R. SPARROW. 




KlXf; STUJF HOrSE. FAirorS old TAVEKN MIIEliE MAIMIITS LAFAYETTE STOl'I'EK. 
VLSO KVMEL WEUSTEU AM) HEM!V (LAY. I5ITLT 1\ IS20. NOW 
LSED AS TOWN FARM. 



U 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Established 1877 Incorporated 1905 

Kuhnly Plumbing & Heating Co. 

Plumbing and Heating Contractors. 

Copper aud C.ah'ani/.ed Cornices, Metal Ceilings, vSiding and Roofing. 
Hstiniates ami Plans Cheerfully l''urnished. 

Stoves, Ranges aud Kitchen Furnishings, Refrigerators, Oil Stoves, Etc. 

Brass aud Iron Valves. Pii^e for Steam, Water and Gas. 

All Work Guaranteed First Class at Bottom Prices. 

We Solicit Your Patronage. 

S^Co. 9 WEST MAIN STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

OSWALD SAENGER v 



FANCY GROCERIES 
FLOUR and PROVISIONS 



TOBACCO AND CIGARS. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 

IN SEASON. 



40 WARD STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

Teleptione Call lOQ-,3 



VERNON -ROCK VI LLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



57 




WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, 
Sheriff of Tolland County. 

Hon. William B. Sprague of Andover, who wa.s ap])oiiitc(l Shoriff of Tnlhiiiil 
County by Governor \\'oodruff, to succeed the late Aniasa P. Dickinson, is oik- 
of Tolland County's best known and most highl}'' esteemed citizens. He has been 
prominent in .republican politics for a great many 3'ears and enjoys a wide 
acquaintance all through the state. He has filled several important positions and 
has shown marked ability. He is a man of sterling integrity, and tliat lie will 
fill the office of Sherifif in a most satisfactory manner is the belief of those wlm 
know him intimately. 

SheriiT Sprague was born in Andover May 6, 1849. lie was educated in the 
public schools of that town and the Natchaug' High School of Willimantic. He 
was a member of the Senate in 1889, a member of the Board of Trustees of the 
Connecticut Agricultural College in 1890, the first Commissioner of Domestic 
Animals under the present law, serving from 1897 to 1899, a Deputy Collector of 
Internal Revenue from 1899 to 1905, and a member of the Republican State Cen- 
tral Committee since 1900. At the time of his appointment as Sherifif he was 
filling the position of Superintendent of the Capitol, having been appointed by 
Comptroller Mitchell and reappointed by Comptroller Bradstreet. 



58 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




WE WANT YOU 



m ^ 



TO BUY YOUR SOUVENIR POSTAL 
CARDS AND SOUVENIRS OF ROCK- 
VILLE OF US 



Largest and Best Line iu the City. STATIONERY of all 
kinds and Prices, 20c, 25c, 30c and 35c a pound. BLANK 
BOOKS, Large Assortment. Fountain Pens, School Supplies, 
Office Supplies, Post Card Albums, Children's Carriages and 
Go-Carts. See our line of Copyrighted Fiction, 45c a volume. 



F. A. RANDALL, - 6 Henry Building. 




HOMESTEAD OF ELXATHAX GRA>'T. BUILT AKOl I 17 J. (iN. (ij llti ill Ills! 

HOUSES IN KOCKYILLE. FACES UNION SJ Kl 1 1 AM) Si is mil, 

BACK FKOM THE KOAU. 0( ( Ul'IEI) HY JOHN AWEAH 

AND FAMILY. 1{E( ENTLY PUKCHASED 

BY S. T. NOBLE. 




HOMFSTEVD OF OZIVS GRANT. BUILT IN 1S(I» 0\ THE SITE OF THE OIiI(;iNVL LOG 

CABIN. OWNED AND OdH'IKD BY N. H. GI5AM. IN WllOSb I'OS- 

..'i.^k.'wwtv lu 'I'lll.' niMCIVU. DKFD. 



60 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



THE ROCKVILLE. 



^ 




M. H. McPHERSON, Prop. 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

^5 :5i$*f$$*i$**SS*i$*g^ 



Modern I 

Improvements. ${J 

Luisme * 

Excellent. * 

l> w 

Dinner from 12 M. to 1^ P. M. 

Sundav Dinner a Specialty, from 1 to 2 P. M. 

Convenient to Interurban and All Trolley Lines. 



The New England Decorating Co, 

i( Decorators for Fairs, Balls, Festi\.als, ^|^ 
^1^ and Public Celebrations. ^^1^ 

WE HAVE THE DECORATING CONTRACT FOR THE 

ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL. 
Conrad G. Koehlert, rockville, conn. 

Proprietor. 




THE «TWI>" MILLS. FIKST WOOLE> MILLS EHEI TL1> IX 1{(K KVILLK. 
TWO SETS OF NARROW ( VKI)S AM) HAM) LOOMS. 



(0\TAI>EI) 




W E 
W B 



E IS 



IHI 



PS ii %^ «»!»: Ifsif:!' 3:*'": 




OLD ROCK FACTORY. WHICH WAS FIRST WOOLEN FACTORY OF ANY SIZE HITLI I> 
ROCKVILLE. STILL STAXDI>G. 



62 



OFFICIAL PROnRAM— OLD HOME WEEK 




c m 

. o 
u ca 

u. = 



a S 




\VK l{i:rUI! KVKUYTIIIX; !UT BHOKKN 

lIKAlfTS. 
Awiiiiitts Made to Order; Carriimcs 'rriiiinictl 
and Furniture Ipliolstered; Picture Franiini;-. 
rniltrcilas Itej)aired and Kecovered; Also 
Orders lal»en f(ir Crayon or Oil Tortrait En- 
largements. (Kverjtliin!;' at a Keasoualtle 
Priee.) (U}\V. IN AM» SKE VS. 
THOKNE A; EAYMAX, 
Rockvilk', Conn. 



Snipsic Lake Grove, 

PLEASURE RESORT. 

TEX Ml.MTES FISOM l!Ot KVILLE. 
FI>E,ST LAKE l.\ NEW EXiLAM). 

'I'hree Fast Stejini Lannelies. l{o« Boats, 

Merrj-(So-l{oiind. Tables For Pienics 
Coiieert and Shore Dinner Every Sunday. 
CAPT. A. T. THOMPSON, Prop. 




VIEW OF li;Mi:i! (H ( I i 



V. 1 \(; rENTKAL PARK. PAHK l'LA( K AM> KAST MAIN 
STREET. 




FIRST PUBLIC HOUSE ERECTKD IN i;o( KMl I I ri.'nl'l i;. Kl II. T I\ IsCi BY >VII. 

LIAM T. COGSWELL, 0\ SIM. Oimi; rillMM i;(MK\II.I.E IIOISE. 

OWNED AM) OCCUPIED HV THE LATE MUUl. KIEL I 0|{ 

YEARS, NOW DOING SERVICE AS HOTEL 

IN ELLIXJTON. 



64 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



\V. B. MARTIN 



The Largest 



COAL DEALER 



in Tolland County. 



WOOD KINDLING, 
BALED SHAVINGS, 
FERTILIZERS, SANT>, 
GRA VEL, CEMENT, ETC. 



f 



TEAMING 

and 

FURNITURE MOVING. 



Office and Yard, - 40 Vernon Ave., Rock\ ille. 

ORDERS RECKIVKI) AT 

WILSON'S PHAR\L\CY, THE FITCH BLOCK. 



DOANE'S DEPARTMENT STORE 

8 Village Street, Corner Union, Rockville, Conn. 



GROCERIES, 
TfRY GOODS, 

i^COTIOi^cs, 

FIREWORKS, 

ICE CREAM SODA, 

'DRUGS, 

TIN, WOOD and 

ENAMEL WARE. 



Decorations for Centennial Week 

Bunting, Flags, Festooning, Etc. 
All at Cut Prices. 



Ice Cream Soda and College Ices 

All Syrups and Cream Our Own Manufacture. 
Special Care in Preparation. 



Fireworks. 

For Years Headquarters for These Goods. 

Largest Assortment, Best Goods, Lowest Prices. 



The Shopping Center of Tolland Count>' 




FIRST CHURCH ERECTED IN TOWN OF VERNON. 

(From pen and ink drawint,- by Special Artist from description furnished by AUyn 
Stanley Kellogg in Historical Address on "The Church of Christ, Vernon Ct.) 
The Ecclesiastical Society of North Bolton was formed m 1/60 The ter- 
ritory of this society was the same as the present Town of Vernon, ihe church 
records contain no account of the formation of the church, except a smgle line, 
written by Deacon Francis King, as late as 1818, "The church in Vcnimi was 
formed October, 1762." This church was known as the Second Church of Ch us 
in Bolton," until the Town of Vernon was incorporated, in October, 1808, when 
the Church and the Society took the name of the town Ihe meeting house was 
raised on the 6th of May, 1762, and was first used for divine worship on the _0t 
of Tune following. The meeting house was 46-36 feet with 22-foot pos s. 1 u 
buid nVcommittee that had charge of the l)uilding of the church consisted o John 
Spi an David Allis and Seth King. The meeting hou.se stood on lie op of 
a hill abo ,t half a mile east of the present meeting house at Vernon Cent. e. 1 as 
of p evad ng style of architecture for country churches-a plain four-sued build- 
ho- without a steeple The interior of the house was arranged after the almo.^t 
ni;.ers'l asSioi , w th nearly square pews having, straight-backed seat.s, wUh 
gallerks on three sides, and, high above the stairs in each front corner, a negm 

'^'^' On the 29th of March. 1762. it was voted "To call Mr. Ebenezer Kellogg 
upon^ ii^n^m o^ J^ fc. .Ulen^. A.cr a tn^ of ^- ,nont...^on thc^fi.. 
of July, It was Voted to call Mn ^'^^' f ^J*;/^ ^^-^^^^^ ^ ,^larv. .S5 pounds the first 

a salary of 60 pounds the hrst year, to increase l^Y ^ P^^JJ/ ^b^^^zer Kcllogg's 
70 POunds^ One nionth later It wa.sv^^^ ,,. 

S-s'ife Af?efth; atption of the federal currency the sum was exprcsse.l by 
$233.33, instead of 70 pounds. 



66 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



An Open Letter to the Public! 

The vSurest Sign of the Superior Oiiality, Inside and (_)ut of the 

JANSSEN PIANO 

Is that it has won its way because of 

Real Merit 

and is talked about and recommended by people who know a good Piano. 
Real success only follows real value. I have worked for just one thing 



Reputation 



Queer thing this reputation ! It takes work, brains, backbone to resist tempta- 
tion to cheapen, personal economy, continuous unremitting plugging, and 
honesty. Once you get it, it's priceless — and it makes you feelgood to know that 
others know and appreciate. The 

Janssen 

Piano is respected by the entire trade. It is made that way. 

GEORGE PETER WENDHEISER BEN. H. JANSSEN, Mfrs., 

Sole Agent for Rockville and Vicinity ji 1881-1907 Park Avenue, New York 

A Handsome Booklet and sheet of Popular Music Free for the Asking. 











TALCOTT BROTHERS, 

WOOLEN MANUFACTURERS. 
TALCOTTVILLE, - - CONN. 

ORCiANIZKD lS-|(i. 











VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



67 



VERNON 
CENTER 

CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH. 




I'arish formed by name of North liol- 
ton in 1760. Church organized a.s the 
Second Church of Christ in Bolton, 1762. 
When the town of Vernon was incorpo- 
rated, in 1808, Church and Society took 
the name of the town. 

The first house of worship, one-half 
mile east of the present buiUHng', was 
erected in 1762; present building erect_ed 
in 1826, thoroughly remodeled in 1851, 
when the portico and spire were added. 
The spire was taken down in 1896. 



riie church has had 24 pastors. The 
tirst. Rev. Ebcnezer Kellogg, served the 
church 5.5 years. Among his descendants 
may be mentioned a grandson, Rev. Ebe- 
nezer Kellogg, for 30 years a professor 
in Williams college; Rev. Martyn Kel- 
logg, president of the l^nivcrsity of Cali- 
fornia, and now living; Mrs. Harriet Kel- 
logg Ma.xwell of Rockville. The records 
of the church arc rich in other honored 
names, which there is not space to men- 
tion here. 



68 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD FIOjME WEEK. 







The Rock Manufacturing Company. 



ORGANIZED IX 1821. . . . 
INCORPORATED IN )SW. 



FREDERICK SWINDELLS, President. 

A. T. BISSELL, Secretary and Treasurer. 

FREDERICK W. SWINDELLS, Superiuteudent. 



VERNON -ROCKVILI.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 




PARK PLACE AND PARK STREET ABOUT 1870. 
Site of Present Modern Henry Building, Showing First Congregational Church of 

Rockville. 




IN I T 

m 




Second Congregational Church of Rock- 
ville, formed in 1849. Stood on the 
site of the present Union Church. 
Destroyed by fire in 1888. Old Pem- 
ber store is seen at the left in illus- 
tration. Second building. 



Old Rockville National Bank In marked 
contrast with present modern build- 
ing. An addition to the Bank build- 
ingon the north side contained the 
office of Town Clerk during the ad- 
ministration of the late Gelon W. 
West. 



70 



OFFICIAL rROGRA^I— OLD HOML WEEK. 



CHAS. BACKOFEN, 

Manufacturer of the well known 

Repeater Cigar 

AND OTHER LEADING BRANDS. 

SOLD EVERYWHERE. 

Largest Assortment of Tobacco and Pipes. 

THE LEADING CIGAR STORE, 

7f) UNION STREET, ROCKVILLE, CONN. 




V^ou will not get disappointed by calling on us during the Celebration for 
-'- something to refresh you in the eating and drinking line. We will as 
usual, be prepared to accommodate you all. 

PAUL FLEISCHER, 

Prop, of LINCK'S HALL 

62 VILLAGE STREET. The Home of Unions, Lodges and Societies. 



.asMS^:^1&i^i<^ 



JOSEF AUGSTEN, 

Rock\ille's Fashionable 

^ Ladi es^ Ta ilor. 

3g Ward Sfreef. 

Telephone l();)-4. 




VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



71 





Rev. C. E. McKinley. Pastor. 



UNION CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH 



The First Congregational Chnrfli in 
Rockville was formed in 18vV. ,i.t of its 
40 nicmhers coming from the \'crnon 
Center church. In 12 years another 
church was needed in the growing vil- 
lage and the Second Congregational 
Church was formed in 1849. For 40 years 
these churches worked side by^ side; but 
in 1888 the building of the Second Church 
was destroyed by fire and the town pur- 
chased the site of the hirst Church for 
the Memorial Town Hall. As there were 
then eight churches in the place, the Con- 
gregationalists voted to unite their forces, 
and the Union Congregational Church 



was formed .Vug. 7, 1888. The corner 
stone of the new building was laid in 
188'^ and the church dedicated Sept. 18, 
1890. The first pastor was the Rev. 
James Dingwell, who served until 1895. 
The present pastor, Rev. Charles E. Mc- 
Kinley-, has l)een with the church since 
Septcniber, 1896. 

Connected with the church are the 
Ma.xwell Free Reading Rooms, opened in 
1894. The rooms are open forenoon, af- 
ternoon and evening, and the large and 
choice selection of daily and periodical 
])ublications is constantly used by a large 
number of readers. 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Bm EVENT THE ROCKVILLE FAIR 

THE LEADING FAIR OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT. 

Grander and Greater than Ever Before. Grounds Enlarged and Entirely 
Made Over. Plenty of Room and a Picturesque and Beautiful Outlook. 

A New Half Mile Track Pronounced by F^xpert Judges to be as good as 
any in New England. 

Interurban Cars Run Direct to Gate of Fair Grounds. One Hour's Trip 
from Hartford Without Change of Cars. Springfield and Stafford Springs 
and all Surrounding Towns Will Find Trolley Facilities Unexcelled. 



MORE ATTRACTIONS, GREATER RACES, LARGER PURSES, 
AND MORE NOVEL FEATURES THAN EVER BEFORE. 



ROCKVILLE, CONN. 
September 22, 23 and 24, 1908. 

For Premium List and Other Information, Address, F'RED. J. COOLEY, Secretary 



High-Grade Heating COAL TALK. 

Q^y^ For A Truly Square and 
)^^y^ Honest Deal in COAL 




You Should Not Forget to go to 

HENRY QEBHARDT, 

SPRING STREET, Near Rau Street Bridge, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



HE CAN SUIT YOU— REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR COAL TASTE 
MAY BE— AND YOU WILL FIND HIS SERVICE THE BEST. ASK 
GEPHARDT EARLY TO SEND YOU HIS COAL. CALL ON TELEPHONE 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



73 





Rev. Luke Fitzsimons, Pastor. 



ST. BERNARD'S CHURCH 





ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



Rev. J. F. George, Pastor. 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 





_.. Established 




WH^ I'^^^'J 


- All sizes of 

-s^Sp" • Crayon and 

1 Watercol- 

■jE^ 1 ors will be 

■ .Ik, i promptly 




ilW ^ made and 




s^ ' guaranteed. 




^^ i Frames for 




^^^^ same in lat- 




^^^Hl styles 




^^^^^^^ff always on 


^^ 


JOHN 


OSWALD. 


PHOTOGRAPHER. \ 


STUDIO. 20 


THOMPSON STREET. 


ROCKVILLE. CONN. 



^OR A COOL AND 

REFRESHING DRINK OF 



LAGER. ALES, 
WINES. LIQUORS. 

ALSO CHOICE BRANDS OF 

CIGARS 

C/\LL ON 

C>()rnellius Dullak, 

2!) VILLAGE STREET. 



Union Street 
BAKERY. 




A. E. UNDERWOOD, 

Proprietor. 



First-Class Bakery (ioods. Home 
Made Cooking a Specialty. Our 
Cakes and Pies satisfy. They are 
the best that can be made. Our 
trade is constantly increasing. 
There's a reason for it. Give Us 
a Call. 



A. E. Underwood, 

4u UNION strf:et. 

Mrs. Se\mour's Old Stand. 



P. Oswald Eckhardt, 



CHOICE MEATS 
and PROVISIONS. 



6 WEST STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 

TlCLKl'HONK 12C-4. 



VERXON-ROCKVILLE CEXTEXXIAL CELEBRATIOX. 



75 





Rev. W. S. Maclntire. Pastor. 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 




Rev. G. D. Gould, Pastor. 




BAPTIST CHURCH 



76 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



R©eKYILLE 
GARAGE e©. 



¥ 



No. 8 Sc/icol Street. 



STORAGE, GASOLINE, OILS, 
SUNDRIES. 

REPAIRING <iA SPECIALTY. 



Compliments of 










>, 






c 




cr> 


^ 




rD 


^ 




3 


.2 


/ 4 


i-n 


O 


f>^^:^^ 


O 


< 






_i3 


;i? 


U 

'J-j 


ii.2i?i!ii 


2 


cH 




Turn Hall Theatre, 


John H. Frieze — John H. \osi, Mgrs. 




SEASON 1908—1909. 




ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 



Stafford Springs Min- 



eral Water Company 

The oldest, purest, best natural 
mineral water in the United States. 
Nature's own brew. Uneqalled for 
every use as table water. Unex- 
celled carbonated fresh from the 
spring. All our soda water made 
from this mineral water: : : 



SfcitTorcl Springs 
/Wincicil Wcilei^ Co., 

Stafford Springs, Conn. 

Edward M. Dowling. Distributor, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



VERNON- ROCK VI LI.K CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 





WEST MAIN STREET GERMAN 
CHURCH 



Rev. G. F. Hartwig, Pastor. 





Rev. Von Schenk, Pastor. 



PROSPECT STREET GERMAN 
CHURCH 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



HEADQUARTERS FOR 

CHOICE GROCERIES. 

S\^10ST COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE 
STOCK OF ANY STORE IN TOLLAND COUNTY. 

OUR SPECIALTV. 

FARRENKOPF'S BEST XXXX FLOUR 
STANDS IN A CLASS 'BY ITSELF. ^ 

delicious Coffee. Full Line of Canned Goods. Best Va- 
rie/y of Fruit in the City. Fresh Vegetables. If You Want 
What You Want When You Want It ^ ^ ^ 

Try Farrenkopf, 30 Union Street, Tel. 91-5. 



nrO GET GOOD THINGS 
' TO EAT COME TO 

BingenKeimer, 

The City Cash Market. 

"Dealer in SVIeats, Fish, Clams, 
Oysters and Vegetables. Lob- 
sters a specialty. Send your 
children if you can't come your- 
self: : : : : : 

: 6 MARKET STREET: : 

TELEPH ONE 46-2 = 



The Silcox Clothmg Co., 

(INCORPORATED.) 

Head -to -Foot 



OUTFITTERS. 

Men's, Boys' and Children's 
Clothing and Furnisliings, 
Hats and Shoes and Rubber 
Footwear : : , : : 



* 



S Park PhK-e, Henry Bldg. 
ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 



VERNON - ROCKVILT.E CENTENNIAL CELEP.RATION. 



79 




ST. JOSEPH'S POLISH CHURCH. CORNER UNION AND 
WEST STREETS. 





/'. -1 vi. 








W'^l- 


\U' 




;.* 


Si (. 


vi,, ' 






'■fs^.'^X-^ V 


/ '' f^y 




■**^!!y|^ 


^^3l.\ 


K- jrti- 




■-^^^ 


^^*^''i 


i/Lss--' 






^3 


fei 


^ 




^Pfi 


rfF 


t 




\.^ 




(Ill- - : 




mrn^. 


'*'t^ 


yiA|.".xfeii 






House where woolen manufacturing was first started in town of Vernon. The pioneers 
were Delano Abbott and Ebenezer Nash. House is located a little east of Northwest school 
house and is now occupied by James Campbell. In company with Francis McLean, Messrs. 
Abbott and Nash came to Rockville and built the "Twin Mills." From this modest beginning 
sprang the giant woolen industries of Rockville. 



so 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




The Best DRUG STORE 



Is flic (iiic fliiit lies! serves its Ciis- 
(oiiiers. (hir eoiistiiiit Jiiiii is (i> fiivc 
(•\erj ciisldiiKT the l)esf iiossilile ser- 
>iee liest in (iiiiility <(t' lioixls, liest in 
iittcntion, liest in riiiirniiicenticiil 
sliill. Iic^t in oerytliinu' tii:it innlies 
tlie most siitisfactory kind of :i Itruu' 
Stoi-e. Our stciKlilj increasinn pntron- 
iiuc is tile liest ei idenre tfiiit «e are 
sncceediiitf in uiving' file liesf l>nm' 
Sl<ire ser\ iee. 



•J^ 



Let US be Your Prescription Druggists. 

We occupy the tiiiique distinction of being- the only DRl'C, vST()RI{ in 
Tolland County where none but a REGISTERED PHARMACIST is 
allowed to compound any Prescription intrusted to us. 

FRED WOODHALL, i^Ruggist and apothecary. 

EEE^siE^EEEE^^E^^^^^^^^E^E^ 30 PARK PLACE, Rockville, Ct. 



The Rockville Milling Company 

\\liu1es,Tlf and Rclail Dealer.s in 

Flour, Grain, 
Meal and 
Feed. 

I lay and Straw, 

Potdtrv I'oods and 

Supplies. 

Grass Seed, Salt, iS:c. 




Custom 
Grinding 



Mill Agents for Pillshurv's Best ) -r^w y-^ t Tr% r^ 
Washburn's Best FLOURS 
Pride of Elvsian i 



H. C\ C'lMMINC;S. 1*R(>1>„ l^OCKVII.I.l-:. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEIlRATrON. 



81 



TER\0\. 

(By Hans n. .lulow.) 

Where, in the old Colonial days, 

The foot-ti-ail crossed a rugged crest: 
Whence travelers, through the distant haze 
Of eve, could see the fading rays— 

The golden sunset to the west: 
There lay a wooded countryside. 

Of stately hill and cliarniing vale: 
It was by Nature occupied, 

The haunt of beaver, fox and (]uail. 

It was the Indians' hunting-ground: 

They came with arrow and with bow. 
For far and wide was it renowned, 
As in abundance there were found 

The luscious partridge and the roe. 
They pitched their wigwams roundabout. 

Within its many sheltered nooks: 
They sought the bass, the eels and trout. 

Within its sparkling lakes and brooks. 

However, with the passing years. 

The settlers came. They first cleared land 
For raising corn — the priceless ears 
That long have been, to pioneers, 

The staff of life, the saving hand. 
And of the trees that they had felled. 

They builded cabins, plain in form, 
Yet fitting, for they well repelled 

The summer's rain and winter's storm. 

These men lived, not by warfare's spoil; 

They sacked no cities, burned no homes: 
But gathered from the virgin soil 
Their needs of life by patient toil, 

As bees that build the honeycombs. 
Ah! is it to be wondered, then. 

If such a region fares so well; 
If fortune smiles upon such men; 

If virtue, thrift, among them dwell? 

Ere many times, with summer's wane. 

The corn had ripened in the shock. 
There were fields, too, of other grain; 
While here and there in rail-fenced lane. 

At nightfall, gathered herd and flock. 
There was the flax field's waving blue. 

The orchard, meadow, fair to see. 
The garden neat, where flowers grew, 

And vegetables luxuriantly. 

The cabins rude had given way 
To models of the joiners' skill; 



There were the barns for grain and hay, 
.\nd stables for the herds to sta.v, 

When roared the winter's winds so shrill. 
For these had Nature given well — 

The forests of past centuries; 
The rivulet in shaded dell. 

To turn the mill to saw the trees. 

No longer did the trail suffice. 

As when the Indian stalked the deer; 
For e'er, with civilization's rise. 
Has come the need of closer ties, 

The need of widening travel's sphere. 
So there were bridges, roads, as best 

To form a network midst the farms, 
A turnpike crossed the rugged crest. 

So beauteous with the sunset's charms. 

The men who settled in this place 

Obeyed, with others, two commands: 
They toiled six days at proper pace. 
And. on the seventh, sought the grace 

Of God, and eased their tired hands. 
They heard the sermon, bowed to pray. 

And sang the hymns so sweet and dear; 
They met their neighbors on this day. 

To change a wor(i of ho])e and cheer. 

.\t the beginning, when but few, 

They worshipped in the distant vills; 
However, when their numbers grew. 
They built a church, so good and true, 

-Near where the turninke crossed the hills 
.Al)out- the church a little plain 

Lay sheltered from the northeast gales; 
Here houses formed a village chain. 

Here stopped the stage to leave the mails 

.\nd "Vernon" was the chosen name, 

Perhaps from verdant fields close by; 

Perhaps, too, there were some to claim 

From Vernon their ancestors came, — 
.\ village in old Normandy. 

Hut history no clue affords. 
■ There is no written page to last; 

Traditions, memories, are the cords. 
That bind the present to the past. 

Complete was the community; 

It now had all that was required. 
So 'twould be best it it would be 
Set separate by itself — set free. 

And this was what it now desired. 
Its wish was granted by the men 

Who made the laws upon that time; 



82 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



E. F. LINCK, 



DEAI,ER IN 






jkn^T Choice 

-rr^ii^' . .>^' ton, 

7?^--^-C- Veal. 

Hams, Vegetables, Etc. 

MAMIFACTIKKK <il- 

Bolognas and Sausages of All Kinds. 



Rockville, 



Conn. 



JOHN HECK, 

Contractor, 



fainting and 
Paper Hanging 

Qraining and Qlazincj. 



Shop, 106 Prospect St. 



W. H. SILL, 

= DRUGGIST = 

HENRY BUILDING, 
Cor. Park Place and Park St. 
ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 
35 Years in Business. ^^ J- 
Your Trade Solicited. J- J- 



THE 

Lunch Wagons, 



Every one calls at these for 
their Lunch on Centennial 
Week: 




John T. Carroll, 



PROPRIETOR. 



VERNON - ROCKVILT.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



83 



And so It came about that then 

The town was formed — an act sublime! 

An act sublime! for thus was made 

A new sphere of democracy, — • 
The fair ideal that has swayed 
The hearts of men where'er the blade 

And rod, have ruled, of tyranny. 
'Tis this that now we celebrate, 

Since then a hundred years have passed ; 
A century of changes great, 

A century of progress vast. 

Since then has Vernon grown apace. 

Not where the village first was planned ; 
But in the north, where at the base 



Of hills the foaming waters race, 

And turn the wheels at our command. 

For we have found the way to chain 
And use the forces of the earth; 

Have found the key that yet will gain 
For every man his due, his worth. 

And when the hand of time has brought 

Still hundred summers to these hills; 
When, too, the God in man has wrought 
A righteous world, in deed and thought,— 

When all has passed though His mills: 
Then will again the aged relate 

The thrilling story of their youth — • 
How Vernon then had cast its weight 

Into the scales for light and truth. 




nil. uLi> &i«»m: mill. 



84 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HO:\IE WEEK. 



Smoke the Famous 



WINTHROP 



10c CIGAR. 



Miiiiiifactiirod lij 



Joseph Whitcomb & Co. 

258 Main St., Springfield, Mass. 

Next door to Nelson Theatre. 



Cigar Manufacturers 
and Tobacconists. 

WHOLESALE A>D KETAIL DEALERS IX 

ALL GRADES OF 

CIGARS, TOBACCOS, PIPES AXD 

SMOKERS' SUPPLIES. 



Established 18'>2. 



WHILE AT THE CE>TE>.MAL. YOC GO 
STROLLING THROUGH THE .IIIDAVAY. 
SEEING THE SIGHTS. DOXT FORGET 
TO TAKE A HIKE DOWX THE PIKE TO 

Lehrmitt's Cafe, 

Dealer in 

Lager, Ales, Wines, 
Liquors, 

CIGARS AND TOBACCOS. 

"A giiiss is good and a lass is good, 
Xo matter ivliat kind of weatlifr; 
A smoke is good and the world seems li-ood 
Wlieii ive are good fellows togetlier." 

COR. WARD AND UNION STS., 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



OTTO G. LEHRMITT, Prop. 



WITH THE OPEMKG OF THE 
STAFFORD TROLLEY LIXE, THE 
"KINGSBURY AYEXUE GREEN- 
HOUSES" WILL BE THE FU- 
TURE STOPPING PLACE FOR 
THE FLOWER LOVINtJ PUBLIC. 



STAUDT, 

The Florist. . . 



TISITORS 
ARE 

ALWAYS 
WELCOME 



PHONE CONNECTIONS 



G. KRAUSE, 



PROPRIETOR, 



New York Bakery 



( ARRY A FIRST CLASS LINE OF GOODS 

SUCH AS BREAD, CAKE AND 

PASTRY OF EVERY 

DESCRIPTION. 

WEDDING PARTIES, ETC. SUPPLIED AT 
SHORT NOTICE. 



40 PROvSPECT STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, . - CONN. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAI. CEEERRATION. 



85 



fm^Twwjfwy'^.'^^^''^' 




!{(»( K'tli.ii: liit.il SCHOOL, COUJiER OF PARK AXP SCHOOL STREETS. I'liOI. il. it. 
.VARSH PRIXIl'AL. 




PROF. H. B. MARSH, Principal. 



8G 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Telephone 17-3. 



MAX C. WEIGEL, 



Dealer in 



Provisions, 

Fresh and Salt Meats, 

Poultry, Lard, Etc. 



Also Manufacturer of 

ALL KINDS OF SAUSAGES. 



120 West Main Street, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



We 

Launder 

Other 

Things 

'besides Shir/s, Collars and 
Cuffs, and do f/jcm well, too. 
zAsh any one who I^as given us 
work to do. We take special 
pains with Shirt Waists, Cur- 
tains, Spreads, Etc. 

Superior Laundry, 

Phone 14 5-3- 



Opera House Block, 



RockviUe, Conn. 



M. Zunder & Sons, 



Importers and Wholesalers of 



WINES AND LIUUORS, 



Delicacies and Tobaccos. 



253, 255, 257 State Street, 
New Haven, Conn. 






L. Bissell &. Son, 



Insurance. 



rvockville, 



Connecticut. 






VERNON - RQCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



87 



AUTOMOBILE HILL CLIMBING 
CONTEST. 
Big Event to Be Held on Tuesday After- 
noon, June 30, of Centennial Week. 
One of the big events of the Centen- 
nial Celebration will be the Automobile 
Hill Climbing Contest, which will be held 
on Tuesday afternoon, June 30, under the 
auspices of the Automobile Club of Rock- 
ville, of which George E. Sykes is Presi- 
dent. It promises to be one of the lead- 
ing hill-climbing contests held in recent 




George E. Sykes, 

President Rockxille Automobile Club. 

years, and a large number of entries has 
already been received. There will be nine 
events and the first prize in each event 
will be a silver cup. The climb will start 
from Martin's coal yard, on New England 
hill. The rules are as follows: 

1. The contest will be run in strict 
accordance with the rules of the Racing 
Board of the American Automobile Asso- 
ciation. 

2. The entry fee shall be $5 for each 
event, which fee will be returned to the 
entrant upon the starting of his car in 



the event for which it is entered. The 
fee must accompany the entry. 

3. The first prize in each event will 
be a silver cup. No second prizes will 
be awarded, but a certificate showing 
position and time will be given if desired. 

4. In all stock events the car must 
be exactly as per manufacturers' cata- 
logue specifications and must be equipped 
with regular body, guards, muffler 
(which, however, can be open while run- 
ning), lamps and horns. 

5 The contest will be started prompt- 
ly at 2 p. m., from Martin s coal yard, on 
New England hill. The entry fee of any 
contestant who is not ready to start on 
time shall be forfeited. 

6. The committee reserves the right 
to reject any entry without giving a rea- 
son therefor. 

7. In event of rain the contest may 
be postponed one week at the discretion 
of the committee. 

8. Each entrant shall hold the Auto- 
mobile Club of Rockville harmless and 
indemnify it against all loss or damage 
resulting directly or indirectly from or 
growing out of the operation of, manage- 
ment or control of car entered by him. 
All suits of a civil or penal character of 
any kind whatsoever, arising from com- 
petition in this test must be borne and 
resulting judgment satisfied by the com- 
petitor responsible for the action. 

The events are as follows : — 

Event No. 1 — Gasolene Stock Cars sell- 
ing for $850 and under. 

Event No. 2 — (jasolene Stock Cars sell- 
ing for $851 to $1250. 

Event No. 3 — Gasolene Stock Cars sell- 
ing for $1251 to $2000. 

Event No. 4 — (iasolene Stock Cars sell- 
ing for $2001 to $3000. 

Event No. 5 — ( iasolene Stock Cars sell- 
ing for $3001 to $4000. 

Event No. 6 — Free For All Gasolene 
Stock Cars. 

Event No. 7 — Free For All Steam Cars. 

Event No. 8 — Open for Gasolene Cars. 

Event No. 9 — Limited to Cars owned in 
Tolland County. 



88 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



^s^, 




The Singing Society Liedertafel 

Of Rockville, 

Was organized in November, 1876. The aim of the society was to 
advance the love of good music, furnish a strong male chorus 
and uphold good fellowship. Its first meeting was held in 
Pfeifer's Hall, on Main street. Sixteen men were admitted at 
that meeting as Charter Members, and thus the foundation was 
laid of the present splendid Society, which now numbers 120; 
and is composed of the most prominent German Citizens of 
Rockville. 

Many concerts were given by the Liedertafel. which always proved successful and 
were largely patronized. The first concert was held in the old Rockville House "in 1878. 

In 1881 a fine silk flag was dedicated at one of the concerts, in which Singing Societies 
from Hartfor'd and Broad Brook ably assisted. 

In November, 1901, the Society celebrated its 2.5th anniversary, and it received valuable 
presents from many Singing Societies of this State. 

The Liedertafel was incorporated in 1903. The headquarters of the Society is at 
Linck's hall, where the monthly meetings and weekly rehearsals have been held since 1893. 

The Liedertafel is a branch of the Connecticut State Singers' League, which holds 
Singing contests every two years in different cities of the State. The next contest in which 
the Liedertafel will take part will be held in Meriden, June 15th, 1908. 

The present vocal instructor is Mr. Carl TJngewitter of Broad Brook. 




O HENRY BUILDING O 









W. G. BROWN, 

DCAI KR IN 

DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS. 




A'^"' SELF-REDUCING ' 
w"" ({ELIErSTRAP 

CtlRSETS-Nemo. Koyal W.. 



Underwear, 

Hosiery, 

Shirt Waists, 

Kid Ciloves, 

Belts, 

Handkerchiefs, 

Collars, 

Combs, 

I'nibrellas, 

Etc., Etc. 

WK GIVE 
RED 

TRADING 
ST. \ MI'S. 



W. G. BROWN, 



32 Park Place, 



Rockville. Conn . 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



89 




FRANCIS McLEAN, 

The Founder of Rockville and One of the 

Town's Earliest Captains of 

Industry. 





ALMIRA NASH SKINNER, 

Wife of Dr. Alden Skinner and Daughter 

of Ebenezer Nash, Vernon's 

First Manufacturer. 



DR. ALDLN SKINNER. 
One of the Last of the Old-Time Physi- 
cians of the Town, Father of Town 
Clerk Skinner. Alden Skinner 
Camp, S. of v.. Named 
in His Honor. 



90 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



GUSTAV SAENGER, 

BOOT AND SHOEMAKER. 
Repairing a Specialty, 



Cotner Ward and Union Streets, 
Rockville, Conn. 



J. T. McKnight, ^ 

CITY ENGINEER. 
General Engineering and Surveying 

Residence, Ellinj^ton. 



Walter H, Skinner, ^ 

Proprietor of 

PARK STREET STABLES. 

REAR PRESCOTT BLOCK, 



Telephone: Office 4J-3. 
House 53-4. 



Rockville, Conn. 



Hack, Livery, Boarding: and Feed Stables 

First-CIass Teams for Hire. 

Good Board for Private Teams. 



"^^ 



H M. SWARTKIOUER, 

GRADUATE OPTICIAN. 
No. 4 Henry Building, Rockville, Conn. 

Oeculists Prescriptions carefully filled and Lenses 
Ground and Matched at Short Notice. 




A. T. DICKINSON, 

Electrical Contractor. 

__= 

Electric Apparatus. Electric Supplies. 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

T. F. GAR\ AN & CO. 

General Insurance, Real Estate. 



Life Accident and 
Liability Insurance 
and Surety Bonds 
of Every Descrip- 
tion. 



Fire Insurance on 
"Dwellings and Con- 
tents in Reliable Com- 
panies at Low Rates. 



Office, No. 12 Prescott Block, 
Rockville Conn. 

Quick Service at the 

City Lunch. 



Fine Coffee. 



Excellent Pastr}'. 



James— CULLEN— Thomas 

Proprietors. 
3 EXCHANGE BLOCK. 

THE TOWN'S 
RUG AND CARPET WEAVER 

O. H. MUELLER, 

14 and 16 Morrison St., 

ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 

Ts pretty well rushed with work and he is all 
the time away behind in filling his orders, but for 
some reason or other his many customers never 
are dissatisfied. There Must Be A Good Reason. 
Our people here, of course, believe in supporting 
a home industry. That's what made our town. 
Try Mr. Mueller wheu you want Rugs woven. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



i)l 



TOWN OF VERNON INCORPO- 
RATED. 



The town of Vernon was .set off from 
the town of Bolton, and by an act of the 
General As.sembly of the state of Con- 
necticut held at New Haven on the second 
Thursday of October, 1808, was incor- 
porated into a town by itself. The fol- 
lowing is a true copy of the record : 

"Upon the petition of Oliver King and 
Saul Alvord, of Bolton, in the county of 
Tolland, agents for said town of Bolton, 
in their own names, and in the names and 
behalf of the rest of the inhabitants of 
said town of Bolton, — shewing to this 
assembly that said town is about eleven 
miles in length from north to south, and 
from three to five miles in width from 
east to west, and is divided into two 
ecclesiastical societies, and that from the 
situation and circumstances of the inhab- 
itants of said town, the same ought to be 
divided into two towns by the society 
lines ; and that all questions respecting 
the debts, poor, bridges, and all matters, 
which might arise in consequence of a 
division of said town, have been amicably 
settled and adjusted. Praying for an act 
of assembly to divide said town as afore- 
said and to allow each town one repre- 
sentative only, as by Petition on tile ilated 
the 3d day of May, A. D. 1808. 

"This petition was brought to tiic 
General Assembly holden at Hartford in 
May last, and thence by legal continu- 
ance, to this Assembly, with an order to 
advertise notice of the pendency of the 
same, which order has been complied 
with and no opposition being made 
against the prayer of said petition and the 
facts stated in the same being proved — 

"Resolved. By this Assembly, that the 
inhabitants living within the limits of the 
society of North Bolton, in said town of 
Bolton, be and they hereby are incorpo- 
rated into and made a town by the name 
of Vernon ; and that they and their suc- 
cessors, inhabitants within said limits, 
are, and shall forever remain a town and 
body politic with the rights, privileges 
and immunities to other towns belonging, 
excepting that they shall elect only one 
representative to the General Assembly 
and the lines and limits of said society 



shall be the lines and limits of said town 
of \'ernon. 

"And it is further resolved, that said 
town of Vernon shall hold their first town 
meeting at the meeting house in said \'er- 
nt)n on the third Monday of November 
next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to 
choose their town officers for the year 
ensuing; — and said meeting shall be 
warned by posting a notification to that 
effect on the sign post in said Vernon ten 
days before said third Monday of Novem- 
ber, which notification shall be signed by 
Oliver King, Esquire, who shall be the 
moderator of said meeting; and in case 
the said King shall fail to perform the 
duty hereby assigned to him, the same 
may be performed by any other justice of 
the peace in any town adjoining said 
town of Vernon — 

"And it is further resolved, that said 
town of Bolton shall hereafter elect no 
more than one representative to a ses- 
sion of the General Assembly. 

"A true copy of Record, examined by 
"Samuel WyllySj Secretary." 

FREEMEN IN VERNON ONE 

HUNDRED YEARS AGO 



Men Who Had Privilege of the Ballot 
When Town Was Incorporated. 

It is (juite appropriate that the free- 
men who comprised the town of Vernon 
when it was incorporated 100 years ago 
shoidd be generally known by the citizens 
of the town of Vernon and ])resent and 
former residents of the town. There were 
108 names on the list — somewhat smaller 
than the list of 1908. There are a num- 
ber of familiar names on the list, especial- 
ly to the older residents of the town. The 
list as compiled from volume 1 of the 
town records, is as follows : — 

Rev. Ebenezer Kellogg 

John Darte 

Jonathan Smith 

Henjamin Talcott 

Jonathan Chapman 

David Smith 

Ezekiel Olcott 

Elijah Tucker 

Ozias Grant 

Ashael Webster 

Ozias Bissell 



92 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



F. J. COOLEY, 

GROCERIES 

AND 

PROVISIONS. 



FLOUR, GRAIN, 
BALED HAY AND STRAW 

A SPECIALTY OF 

FINE OATS. 



Corner of West Street 
and Windsor Avenue. 



18!:)L^ 








1908 


r/'j 




,. 






h J 

< m 

A 

M 


1 











u 


^ 








w. 


J. 


NORTON. l^KOP 




L^EOl 


^LE 


S NI A R I< 


ET, 


Tel. Call. 


135 


West Main Street, 

Rock VII. i.E, 


Conn. 






Compliments of 

R. S. Kirsche, 

BOWLING 
ALLEY. 

66 TEMPLE STREET, 
HARTFORD, CONN. 





SHOES 




H. E. LIEBE, 

Dealer iu 

Reliable Footwear. 

Opposite Memorial Building, 
Rockville, Conn. 



VERNON - ROCKXILLE CENTENNTAE CELEBRATION. 



93 



Roger Loomis 
John Payne 
Alexander Kinney 
Phineas Chapman 
James Thrall 
Samuel Root 
Elijah Skinner 
Oliver King 
Reuben King 
John Driggs 
Joshua Pearl 
Thomas Chapman 
Reuben Skinner 
Solomon Perrin 
Nathaniel Rogers 
Benjamin Talcott, jr. 
Caleb Parsons 
Leonard Rogers 
Epliraim Tucker 
Jabez Cheesbrough 
Elijah Hammond 
Abraham Whcdon 
Roger Darte 
Eli Hammond 
Samuel Talcott 
Joseph Hyde 
Cornelius Roberts 
Phineas Talcott 
Habb Wyles 
\\'areham Grant 
Jacob Talcott 
Asher Isham 
Thomas W. Kellogg 
Ebenezer Hunt 
Scottoway Hinkley 
Alexander McLean 
Lemuel Abbott 
Erastus Kinney 
John Waburton 
Aaron Eaton 
Jonah Sparks 
Abel Driggs 
John Bingham 
Ezekiel Baker 
Elijah Skinner, jr. 
Augustus Grant 
Jesse Miner 
Ebenezer Kellogg, jr. 
Oliver Hunt 



Amos Jones 
l*-benezer Bivins 
David Smith, jr. 
I-lbenezer Chapman 
Roswell Smith 
Irad Fuller 
Stephen Fuller 
Reuben Sage 
Levi Darte 
Daniel Root 
John Walker 
Lemuel King 
Leavitt Millard 
l^lnathan Grant 
Justus Talcott 
Ji.se])h Loomis 
Thaddeus l-"itch 
.Vlvan Talcott 
I'.lijah i'ayne 
Simeon Cooley 
Daniel Daniels 
Ezekiel Olcott, jr. 
Normand Walker 
Shubael Sparks 
Russell Thrall 
Samuel Lyman 
Warren Kinney 
Lebbeus P. Tinker 
Delano Abbott 
John N. Hall 
F'rancis McLean 
Elliott Palmer 
Daniel Fuller 
Joshua Pearl, jr. 
Hosea Erownson 
Curtis Crane 
John Chapman 
Lee L. Rogers 
Chester King 
Oliver H. King 
I leman Hyde 
John Cadey 
Russell Cadey 
Russell King 
I losea Tucker 
Jameson Cheesebrough 
Ashael Cadey 
Reuben Sage, jr. 



94 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



E. W. Harrington, 

Dealer in Choice 

BEEF, MUTTON, 
VEAL, PORK, 

Poultry, Eggs, 
Vegetables, etc. 



No. 28 MARKET STREET, 
Phone. 



Flour, Grain and Feed. 






CARRIAGES 
and WAGONS. 

Poultry Supplies. 

Edward White, 

ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

Telephone 9-12. 



AGENT FUER 



Schwedicshe 
Essencen 



auch Fornis Alpenkraeuter, Blut- 

beleber, Heil Oel, Gruene 

Tropfen fuer Diphteritis 

Uterine. 



Alle Sorten 

GROCERIES, CIGARREN, 
T ABACK, 'VFEIFEN USW. 

Henry Schmalz, 

153 UNION STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



Mrs. J. Paulsen, 

34 Village Street, Rockville, Conn. 

SPECIALTIES : 

SHIRT WAISTS THAT FIT. 

BUTTERICK PATTERNS. 

Also a Full Line of 
DRV GOODS AND NOTIONS. 



T. F. O'Conneli, 

Wholesale and Retail 

LIQUOR DEALER. 

Agent for Frank Jones Portsmouth 
Ale and Pabst Milwaukee Lager. 

44-46 MARKET STREET. 



VF,RNO\- ROrKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



05 





Union Street looking west. First house 
on right is Samuel Fitch's. The old 
Hedge fronted the west part of Mr. 
Maxwells grounds. The large Fitch 
block is now on the house site. 



l-^ast Mam Street — Ai 



L^Mri 




m 


m 


Hni^ 




t*^«^i.tfi-*<« 


1 


■ 


^^1 


w3^^L. 


{-' 




^ 


HH9 




1^^ J ; r^«Mw 


i 


ji 


^Mf^^UHl 


|Wi p rgiiW 










u y^^t 










ui^-IB 


^^^ 






f 


W^ 




HHbini 


WM 


Hr 


>wt 




Elm Street Looking North. Ulu V 



An old view .jl Market Street slinwint; 
Union Hall, first public hall opened 
in Rockville. 



96 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



F. G. Schliphack, 

HORSE AND OX 
SHOBING. 

Wagon Building and 
General Jobbing. 



113 EAST MAIN STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



C C. HAPI^IS, 



* 



Dealer in 

Hardware aiul 
Woode-RWdre. 

Grass and Garden Seeds, Builders' 
Hardware, loiners' and Machinists' 
Tools, Manufacturers' Supplies, 
Scissors, Shears, Pocket and Table 
Cutlery, Brushes, Swings, Ham- 
mocks, Etc. 

^^^^^^ 

K'o. 20 EASr MAIN .STREET. 

lVIC|)l»OIU' 50-2. 



George Arnold 
& Son, 

CONTRACTORS 
and BUILDE%S. 



8 Ward Street, 

Opposite 
Envelope Works, 




Rock\ lUe, Conn. 



Estimates Furnished for 
All Kinds of Buildings. 



Jobbing Promptly (Attended to. 



S. W. SADLACK, 

Beer, Wii^e, Liciuors. 

CHOICE CIGARS. 
124 WEST MAIN STREET. 



VERNON - KOCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



97 




CENSUS OF ROCK villi:, A I 



TAKEN BY 



)iiN \vi;Aur; 



l\);). 



No. -/ mtU ti^ FMml. 



349 



SloDf Mill Co., (Colion 
Manufactory,] 

Paper Mill, by Hill 4 Uu< 

Cuiton Mill, liy Brady, 



> Inhakltauls, 

<A|9<ccgste Number, l»il 
'; Do. Mule., . 827 

; Do. FmalSs, ■ 778 

Males over ■«), . • H2 
jFomale* over 40. 166 
:Males owv 20 nn(\ 
■■ ■ un Jer 40, 424 

Pemalea over 20 alid 
i unjer 40. 
.Males over 10 ai.d , ,1 

• under 20, 241 lAmeriuu. Mill. [F I'n. 

';Fernalcaover 10 and: , '1 
; under 20. : 1«0 i ,^ 

^Children 10 and nn- A R«d<«'lle,^™" " "■'> 
,1..,- Mh »■«», 418- 

A ■>" l-5«'lli,istMill. 



247 j Uook Mill., [Fancy Cassiinere^ 
"l Lced'- Mfrx. (^., |S«li„.H,l 
l^loirence. {BIk. SalioelU.J 

97 I Neiv England Co. (F.Omimere. 

321 

21 S.«on> Co. (SiUinett,) 

53; 

Splinf-villo Co. (Satinelt.1 
an ! Jabl-/ Sean.. Grocer, am't solo. 



;DwKuuso HoufiHS, 

■Average No. to each. 
cNoMBER oy Schools 



OWs. 
Total. 
WcBl Scliool, 

Boys, 
fiirls, 
Tnlal. 

Bov!, 
Girk, 
Total 



\y.<\'» & S|)eneer. Cabinet-wai 
Manufactory, Capital Sleek. 



Ij 20,1S0,000 
no ■iOU 325.000 300.00(1 300.000 



im'>3O.m>0S3O.000 



98 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



ALL NEW AND UP-TO-DATR DESIGNS. 
LETTERING MONUMENTS A SPECIALTY. 

H. T. ANDERSON, 

IIIGII-ORADl-: 

Marble and Granite Monuments. 

Murlless Block, Main Street, 
Telephone 9-2. ROCKVILLE, CONN. 




GRADUATE 



WILLIAM J. FINLEY, 

ROCKVILLE, 

CONN. 



Concert Titniug,— Clientele Work Solicited. 



LUDWIG FRITZSCHE, 

Manufacturer of and Dealer in 

FINK CIGARS. 



Large assortment of FRENCH BRIAR and 
MEERSCHAUM PIPES, SMOKING and 
CHEWING TOBACCO. 

Fitch Block, 40 Union Street, 

ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



GEORGE B. MILNE, 
Blacksmith, 



Horse Shoeing and Jobbing. 
Wagon Building and 
Repairing of All Kinds. 

229 West Main St., Rockville, Conn. 



OSKAR H. BURKHAHDT, 

Dealer in 

Groceries and Provisions, 

DRY AND FANCY GOODS. 



Noiions a Specialty. 



Cigars and Tobacco 



3-t Spring- Street, Rockville, Conn. 



W. H. Robinson, D. D. S. 

DENTIST. 

Exchange Building, 
Rockville, Conn. 



Hacks Furnished for 
Weddings, Parties 
and Funerals. 



Open All Night. 
Telephone Call, 9-4. 



A. M. BURKE, 

LIVERY, HACK, 
FEED and BOARDING STABLE, 

Rear of The Rockville House, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

Liebe's Harness Shop 

Opp. Memorial Building. 

Everything in the Hne of HORSE FURN- 
ISHING GOODS and STABLE 
REQUISITES. 

ROTO SALT AND FEEDERS. 



Telephone 
Connection. 



Repairing Promptly Done. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CEI.EP.RATION. 



99 



Official Program— Old Home Week 

JUNE 28 to JULY 4, Inclusive. 



SUNDAY, JUNE 28. 

Morning. Special services in all llic 
churches, sermons by former pastors 
and singing of okl-time hymns. 
Afternoon. Rendition of famous 
oratorio, "The Creation," in Union 
church. 

Evening. C)ratorio will be given 
second rendition, with solo parts by 
distinguished New York Artists, 
Orchestra, and Chorus of 125 voices. 
Historical address at St. John's 
church by Rev. Dr. Samuel Hart, 
Dean of Berkeley Divinity School 
and President of Connecticut His- 
torical Society. Solemn High Ves- 
pers at St. Bernard's Church, with 
sermon by Rev. Edward Flannery 
of ?Iazar(h-ille. 

MONDAY, JUNE 29. 

Afternoon. Opening exercises at 
\'ernon Center (mother settlement 
of the town), in historic Congrega- 
tional church, built in 1826, with fol- 
lowing program: 1, Music; 2, Invo- 
cation; 3, Address of welcome by 
Parley B. Leonard, Esq., first select- 
man of the Town of Vernon ; 4, Read- 
ing of Act of the General Assembly 
creating the Town of Vernon, by 
Francis B. Skinner, Esq., town clerk ; 
5, Music; 6, Historical Essay by C. 
Denison Talcott, Esq.; 7, Music; 8, 
Reminiscences, by Capt. Charles W. 
Burpee of Hartford; 9, Centennial 
poem, by Prof. Thos. D. Goodell of 
New Haven; 10, Music; 11, Com- 
memorative address by Hon. Charles 



Phelps, President of Vernon Centen- 
nial Connnittee; 12, Benediction, 
i'ollowing the exercises in the church 
there will be a Band Concert and 
social gathering on green in front 
of the church. 

Evening. Grand Colonial Ball in 
Town Hall, under auspices of Sabra 
Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R. 
Grand Ball at Turn Hall. 
Opening of Electrical Display and 
Illuminations; Band Concert; Vaude- 
ville, and Midway, on East Main 
street. 

TUESDAY. JUNE 30. 

Afternoon. Automobile Hill-Climb 
Contest, Vernon avenue, at 2 o'clock. 
Athletic sports, including foot races, 
sack races, climbing greased pole, 
etc. 

Ball game on Union-street grounds, 
Rockville vs. Middletown, . cham- 
pions of Middlesex County League. 
Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert : 
Vaudeville, and Midway. 

Evening. Meeting of .Vlunmi of 
Rockville High School, with grand 
reunion. 

Reception and banquet tendered by 
Fayette Lodge, No. 69, A. F. & A. 
M., to M. W., Edward E. Fuller, M. 
W., Grand Master of Masons in 
Connecticut. 
Ball in Town Hall. 
Electrical display and Illuminations; 
Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
way. 



TOO 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Special in Laces. 

Two minutes walk from Trolley you will find 
the largest assortment and the latest kinds and 
cheapest iu the City. Laces of all kinds and In- 
sertion to match, also Hamburg Edge, Insertion, 
Trimmings, Ribbons, Lace Curtains. Handker- 
chiefs, Richardson Embroidered Silk, Linen 
Doilies, Balteuberg Patterns, Braid. Corsets 
made to order. Corset Covers, Fancy Aprons, 
all home-made. Come and convince yourself. 

Miss Ida Weber. 

Cor. W. Main St. and Vernon Ave. 

Miss C. F. Seidel, 

MILLINERY, 
Fancy Goods and Stamped Goods. 



ORCUTT BUILDING, 
EAST MAIN STREET. 



NELLIE V. FINLEY, 

Teacher of Piano 
and Harmony. 

i6 Chestnut St., Rockville, Conn. 



Dressmaking Parlor 

At the SINGER STORE. 

Ladies' vSuits, Shirt W.iists and 
Children's Dresses at Reason- 
able Rates. 
Prompt Attention to all Orders. 

Mrs. Anna Bigelow, 



Geo. G. Schneider, 

TAILOR. 



Also Manufacturer of COVERED 

BUTTONS in various styles and 

Sizes To Order. 

l^I.EASED TO SHO>V S.VMl'LKS. 

No. 22 Union St., Fitch Block, 

ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



Thomas Sheridan, 

Best Brands of Foreign and Domestic 

Liquors, Wines, Ales, Lager 
and CHOICE CIGARS. 



Telephone 35-4. 
Singer Store. 



8/ Union Street, 

Rockville, Conn. 



SC) WEST STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, - - CONN. 



1887 1908 

21 years supplying the 
people of Tolland Couuty 
with Footwear. 

Our Motto, is. Square 
Dealing, Reasonable 
Prices, Courteous Treat- 
ment. Our aim is to have 
each customer feel that 
we are more concerned in 
making permanent trade 
than in securing large 
tcnqiorarv profits. 

F. L. STRICKLAND, 

18 Main St . Rockville. 
AgenI for Walkover Shoes 



ARE \o\i Looking for Honest Estimat- 
ing? Then Give Me a Trial. 

F. W. Stengel, 

CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER. 

I'lans Furnished. 
Johhiiig rroni]itly Attended To. 

9 LAWRENCE STREET. 




VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATION. 



101 



Official Proeram-Old Home Week. 



(CONTINUED) 



WEDNESDAY, JULY 1. 

Afternoon. Fifers' and Druniniers' 

convention and contest. 

Ball game on Union-street grounds, 

Rockville vs. Bristol. 

Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 

Vaudeville, and Midway. 

Evening. Grand pyrotechnical dis- 
play, furnished b}' Clarence D. Holt, 
former Rockville resident. 
Band Concert ; Midway, and \'aude- 
ville : Electrical display and Illumina- 
tions. 

THURSDAY, JULY 2. 

Morning. Baseball game on Union- 
street grounds between Rockville 
and Springfield State League team, 
(game will be preceded by parade of 
the players of the two teams in autos. 
headed by band). 

Afternoon. Baseball on l^iion-street 
grounds, Rockville vs. Springfield 
State League team. 
Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 
Vaudeville, and Midway. 
Evening. Rockville Baseball Asso- 
ciation's reception to players, enter- 
tainment, and ball, in Town Hall. 
Social dance at Turn Hall. 
Band Concert; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
way; Electrical display and Illumina- 
tions. 



FRIDAY, JULY 3. 

Afternoon, (irand military, civic and 
industrial parade, ending with Cen- 
tennial Drill under direction of 
Moritz Kemnitzer. 

Band Concert; Balloon Ascension; 
Vaudeville, and Midwa}'. 
German Entertainment at Turn Hall. 

Evening. Grand military ball at 
Town Hall. 

German entertainment at Turn Hall. 
Band Concert ; Vaudeville, and Mid- 
way ; Electrical disj^lay and Illumina- 
tions. 

SATURDAY, JULY 4. 

Morning. I'arade of Antiques and 

Horribles. 

Band Concert. 

Afternoon. Firemen's muster. 
Baseball, Rockville vs. Stafford. 
Balloon Ascension ; Band Concert ; 
Vaudeville, and Midway. 

Evening. I'iremen's ball in Town 
Hall. 

Band Concert; i'.lectrical display and 
Illuminations ; Private display of 
fireworks ; Vaudeville, and Midway. 
■ Exhibit of historical relics and curios 
each day. 
Industrial exhibit each dav. 



102 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



1 niiothy Sullivan, 

Beer, Liquor and 
Choice Cigars. 

■ m 

No. 10 GROVE STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, . . CONN. 


F. E. KOHNLY. W. C. THYLOB. 
BARBKRS. 

33 Village St. 0pp. Turn Hall. 


Ewatd Serbser, 

_^l^ Dealer in 

First-Class Groceries 
and Provisions. 

Try Oar CAPITOL CITY FLOUR. 

21 COTTAGE STREET. 


VERNOH CENTENIUHL GELEBUHTIQN. 

Fine Coach Harness, Coupe Harness, 

Buggy, Express and Team Harness. 

A complete line to select from at 

low prices. 
A Full Line of Lap Robes and Horse 

Clothing. 
Trunks, Bags, Dress Suit Cases, etc. 

A full line at low prices. 


A. L. Helm, 5 Market Street. 


M. J. Kernan, 

CHOICE MEATS 
and PROVISIONS. 


Randall & Randal, 

6 HENRY BUILDING, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 


Brooklyn Street, 
Rockville, - - Conn. 


Real Estate and 
IriSTirance. 


Heyman & HoUaender, 

DOMESTIC LEAF TOBACCO. 

And Importers of 

HAVANA and SUMATRA TOBACCO. 


American Hotel, 

M. J. HYNES, Proprietor. 

Permanent and Transient Board. First- 
Class Dining Room. Sample and Pool 
Room in Connection. 


203 PEARL STREET, 
Near Maiden Lane, NEW YORK. 


38 and 40 MARKET STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, CONN. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



103 





KU 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



R. Blankenburg, 

ROCKVILLE, CONN. 

MARKET GARDEN, 

SPECIALTIES: 

Early Potatoes, 

Early Sweet Corn aud 
Telephone Couuectiou. Strawberries. 




=^100 Years 



From now we may not have the privi- 
lege of selling you Shoes. But we are 
certainly in splendid shape to be your 
Shoe man this year. 

Ruckville City Shoe Store, 



JAS. H. KEENEY. 



Doane Building. 



Carl C. Schmciske, 

^ MERCHANT 
TAILOR. 

,21 PROSPECT STREET, 
ROCKVILLE, . . . CONN. 

Marble Pillar Cafe, 

FRANK BECHER, Proprietor. 
The Finest Brands of 

AlesAVines, Liquors and Cigars. 

Visit the Marble Pillar for a Dainty 
Lunch or to enjoy a Social Game 
of Pool or ShufHe Board. 

22 Centr.m. Row, HARTFORD, CONN. 



Thompson's ^ 
Billiard Parlors. 

5 TABLES. 
44 Union Street, Rockville, Conn. 

FREE EXHIBITION OF INDIAN 
RELICS AND CURIOS. 

Established 1867. 

A. K. & P. Talcott, 

16 East Main Street. 

Dealers in 

GENERAL MERCHANDISE. 

A good place to buy Crockery aud Wall Paper. 
Madrid, 112 Piece Dinner Sets, $14.00. 
Verona, 112 Piece Dinner Sets, ".20. 



H. FISCHER'S 

Kxtra Beer on 

Draught 



J. EICHLER'S 

New York Beer on 

Draught. 



HENRY JANSON, 

BEER, WINE, LIQUORS,CIGARS. 

lA'XClI ROOM. 

Germania Hall Cafe. 

Headquarters for Turners. 

1050 Main Street, Hartford, Conn. 

Telephone Connection. 

1883 Ouarter Centennial 1908 

2.J Years in 

Photography 

in Rockville. 
— ifjl^ Ought to be able to 
■ please you. 
Try me for your 
next Photo. 



:CHVKii,' 




Fitch Block, 
ROCKVILLE. 

Kodaks and 
Kodak. Supplies. 



VERXON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



10;') 



FIRST TOWN MEETING 

IN TOWN OF VERNON 



It Was Held on the Third Monday in the 
Momn of November, 1808. 

The first town meeting' of the town of 
Vernon was held on the third Monday in 
November, 1808. Following is a copv of 
the proceedings of the meeting, taken 
from the records : 

-•Xt a Town meeting legally warned and 
held in Vernon on the third Monday of 
November, A. D. 1808, Oliver King, Mod- 
erator in said meeting- 
Oliver King was chosen Town Clerk 
for the year ensning — 

Oliver King was chosen Town Treas- 
urer for the year ensuing — 

Cornelius Roberts, Oliver Hunt & 
Lemuel King were chosen Select Men for 
the year ensuing — 

Constables — Francis McLean to col- 
lect the state tax; Ebenezer Kellogg, jr. 

Grand Jurors — Alex'n McLean & 
Elijah Skinner, jr. — , 

Lifters — Scottoway Hinkley & Ebe- 
nezer Kellogg, jr. — 

Tything — Tohn Chapman & Thomas 
W. Kellogg— 

Surveyors of Highway — Ebenezer 
Chapman, Jameson Cheesebrough, Alvan 
Talcott. — ■ 

Hayvvards — Elijah Skiimcr, jr., Eli 
Hammond — 

Pound Keeper — Cornelius Roberts. — 

Fence Viewers — Trad Fuller & Solo- 
mon Perrin. — 

Voted — A Tax of one Cent on a Dol- 
lar on the last August list to defray Town 
charges — 

Voted — That swine have liberty to 
run at large with a ring in their nose. 

Voted — A Tax of two Cents on a Dol- 
lar on the last August list for mending 
Highways. — 

Voted — That the Select Men divide 
the districts and assess the labor on the 
Highways. 

Voted — Tliat a warning put on tiu- 
sign Post in the Town at least six days 
previous by the proper Authority be legal 
warning for a Town Meeting. 



\'oted — That the Selectmen meet with 
and settle accounts with the Select Men 
of the Town of Bolton. — 

Voted — That this meeting be adjtmrn- 
ed to be opened immediately after the 
I'reemen's fleeting in April next. 

Test : Oliver King, Town ("lerk. 



PRESENT TOWN OFFICIALS. 

Town Clerk and Treasurer — Francis B. 
Skinner. 

Selectmen — P. B. Leonard, Paul Brache 
and John H. Zimmermann. 

Tax Collector — August C. Magdefrau. 

Assessors — John P. Cameron, Lester D. 
Phelps, George R. Billings. 

Board of Relief— Alfred O. Thrall, Joseph 
Grist, William Merten. 

Registrars of Voters — Francis A. Ran- 
dall, George Forster. 

School Visitors — S. Tracy Noble, Edwin 
G. Butler, Morris H. Talcott. T. F. 
O'Loughlin, Dr. A. R. Goodrich, Dr. 
J. E. Hassett. 

Town Auditors — Albert E. Waite, Joseph 
E. Bolan. 

High School Committee — Horace G. Tal 
cott, Jennie B. Butler, William Max- 
well, Lyman Twining Tingier, Geo. 
P. Wendheiser. 



CITY OFFICIALS. 

Mayor — George Forster. 

City Clerk — John N. Keeney. 

City Treasurer - Frank Farrenkopf. 

Sheriff— Michael Shea. 

Tax Collector — James A. Carroll. 

Auditors — William H. Yost and William 
J. Jackson. 

Aldermen — O.C.West, Carl C. Schmeiske, 
David Horgan and Wm. Petig. 

Councilmen — George W. Hill, Frank W. 
Wendhiser, Allen J. Heck, John 
Kress, John Flaherty, Theodore 
Staudt. Conrad Sachse, James Breen. 

Captain of Police — Edward J. Kane. 

Chief of Fire Department — John W. Hef- 
feron. 

Superintendent of Streets — Frank R. Rau. 



106 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



George Diedering, 

Contractor and Builder. 






Jobbing Promptly Attended to. 



J 8 Thompson St., 



Rockville, Conn. 



TTOVVARD WATCHES, 
invIAMONDS 

and most other good things in 
the Jewelry Hne. 

Whittlesey, 

Henry Building, Park Place. 

R. GRAF, 

Corner Windermere Avenue 
and Franklin Street. 



Kerosene Oil and Gasoline 

Delivered to any part of the City 
on Short Notice at Lowest Prices. 



Coiiipliineiits of 

Oliver Morin, 

IL^Jl E. Main St., Rockville, Conn. 



Naragansett Brewing Co. 
Lager and Ale on Draught. 

Bottled Lager and Ale for Family Use. 



IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF 

Wall Taper, Oil Cloths, 
Taints, Oils, Shades or 
Ticture F raining. • 

Tke mace to "^uy Them is at 
N. WENDHISER' S, 

No. 3 Market Ssreet. 

ROCKVILLE, - CONN. 



Metropolitan House, 



C. E. SHEPARD, 



Proprieror. 



Is the Leading Place iu the 
city for the Best Brands of 
Foreign and Domestic 

Liquors, Wines, Ales and Lager 

and Choice Cigars 
Market Street, Rockville. 

Dr. J. Lincoln Burgess, 

Veterinary 
Surgeon. . . 



Hartford Turnpike. 



Telephone 69-2. 



If Your Horse is Sick or Needs Attention 
of Any Kind, Give Me a Call 



Frank Hutchinson, 
CONTRACTOR 
and BUILDE%. 

Jobbing Tromptlv ciAt tended To. 
24 Talcott Ave. Rockville, Conn. 

TKLEPHONE CONNECTION. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



107 



A whole chapter might well be gi\'eii 
to Vernon's part in the various wars, but 
lack of space forbids at this time. Suffice 
it to say no chapter more largely con- 
tributes to the town's enduring honor and 
renown, or more strongly appeals to the 
sentiment of local pride, than does the 
story of its patriotic services in the Revo- 
lution, in the War of 1812, in the Civil 
War and in the war with Spain. The 
splendid revelation of consecration, the 
hazards and the sacrifices, the high dar- 
ing, lofty courage, the trials and tribula- 
tions of Vernon's native born sons, have 
stirred the hearts of all people who honor 
genuine patriotism and revere true valor, 
crowning every struggle in which these 
sons have been engaged with a halo of 
celestial light and beauty, transmitting 
their names and fame in ever brightening 
lustre to generations yet unborn. 

When discord came, which ott destroys 
A nation with its blighting breath, 

So hopeful with the springtime joys; 

From Vernon went the soldier boys, 
Unmindful of the chance of death. 

Unmindful of the trying life, 

The horrors of the battlefield, 
They bravely followed drum and fife 

When thunder-like the cannons pealed. 

They fought to end an age-old wrong — 

To liberate a fettered race; 
So that the nation might grow strong— 
That clearer would the soul-felt song 

Of freedom ring through boundless space. 
There was the tear — there was the sigh, 

When coldly fate had cast her dice ; 
But progress, O, thy altar high 

Is worth the greatest sacrifice. 

Brigham, George N. 
Gates, Grafton 
Lord, Sylvester 
Long, Chas. 
Taylor, Johnson 
Burpee, Thomas F. 
Emery, Ira 
Vinton, Chelsea 
Stoughton, Frank E. 
Dart, Charles E. 
Hirst, John 
Hirst, Benjamin 



Murray, Joseph 
Waite, Otis H. 
Worcester, Geo. E. 
Bilson, John H. 
Dainty, VVm. H. 
Edwards, Charles C. 
Fletcher, Charles 
Fuller, Jerome B. 
Goodell, Wm. W. 
Hospodsky, Henry F. 
Orcutt, Henry W. 
Stoughton, Ervv'in 
Symonds, John 
Tracy, Carlos 
Whiting, David W. 
Allen, Edward P. 
Thrall, Wells G. 
Abby, John 
Barrows, Samuel 
Bowers, Abner S. 
Buttervvorth, Thomas 
Colburn, George W. 
Crombie, David B. 
Farrell, James 
Gilmore, Robert 
Gready, Jeremiah 
Griswold, Lorin S. 
Griswold, Russell 
Gross, August 
Hemmann, August 
Hills, Orrin O. 
Hirst, Joseph 
Jackson, Patrick 
Julian, John F. 
Justin, Henry W. 
Lee, Henry A. 
Maine, Frank D. 
Mann, Edward W. 
McGuane, Martin 
Mcintosh, David 
McPherson, John 
Metcalf, Martin V. B. 
Morton, (Jeorge W. 
Ogden, John A. 
Pierce, George A. 
Pinney, Lyman D. 
Ramsdell, Wm. P. 
Reed, Richard P. 
Risley. Chas W. 
Root, Wm. B. 
Scott, William 
Sloan, George F. 
Smith, John W. 
Spencer, James B. 
Staft'ord, Joseph 



108 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 



Compliments of 

Charles Phelps, 

Attorney at Law. 


Compliments of 

Thomas F. Noone, 

Attorney at Law. 


Compliments of 

Lyman Twining Tingier, 

Attorney at Law. 


Compliments of 

John E. Fisk, 

Attorney at Law. 


Compliments of 

D. J. McCarthy, 

Attorney at Law. 


Compliments of 

R. H. Leonard. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELERRATION. 



109 



Stafford, Thomas 
Stearns, Lyman K. 
Tierney, Michael 
Tiley, Henry 
Town, Albert IL 
Waldo, Christopher 
Williams, John 
Winans. Augustus ^\■ 
Woldert, Adam 
Barrows, Isaac W. 
Dillon, Martin 
Jones, Watson 
Kramer, Seigfried 
Ulrick, William 
Miller, Peter 
\\'illiams, Henry E. 
Barrett, John 
Colson, George 
Gozzens, Max 
Laurel, Charles 
Fletcher, Charles 
Baker, George L. 
Bell, William 
Johnson, John 
Jackson, James G. 
Moore, William 
Suls, John 
Toplis, Fleetwood 
Burke, Owen 
Garey, John 
Shaugnessy, Michael 
Balcom, Geo. W. 
Wilson, Henry 
Smith, John 
Jost, Martin 
Hansel, Conrad 
^^■attslong, John 
Ferguson, Alartin 
Patz, Ferdinand 
Bushnell, Wm. A. 
Bushnell, James M. 
Foster, Philip H. 
Hills, Alonzo 
Hann, Horace 
Loomis, Henry S. 
Vail, Henry W. 
Bernard, John 
Burns, Charles 
Wencger, John 
Button, Geo. R. 
Brooks, Adino E. 
Skinner, Alden B. 
Bruce, Wm. C. 
Chappcll. Wm. W. 
Craw, Iliram 



r.ailey. Josei)!] 
Ilailc}-, Le\-i 
llrown, Avery 
Silcox, John 
\\ icks, George 
Wright, Loren 
Thomas, V\'illiai:! 
I'Veeman, Henr}- 
Dockhirty, Charks 
Newport, William 
Wooby, Peter 
Woob}', \\'illiam 
ISarber, Samuel .\. 
l^Veeman, Julius 
( )lston, Thomas 
Brown, John 
Di.xon, Frederick 
Holden, Benjamin 
.Mann, Wm. R. 
liyman, John E. 
Cahoon, Frederick 
Corey, Samuel J. 
Edwards, Charles 1,. 
Purnell, Jacob 
A\"ilson, Lucius I ). 
Truesdale, .\lfred .\. 
West, Rufus 
Clark, Jerome i!. 
Truesdale. Harlan 
Knox, Charles 1 1. 
North, Samuel L. 
I^i.s.sell, Geo. S. 1st 
Connor, Wm. 1 1. 
Ingram, (]eorge R. 
I'oyd, Norman 
I'errard, Charles L. 
-Maxwell, (ieorge W. 
Rich, Samuel C. 
Wright, Edward H. 
Dillingham, I lonry 1 
Colbey, Henry I-:.' 
I'clber. Henry 
Winans, John R. 
1 larding. James 
Hook, \\m. 
Silcox, Henry E. 
Lawrens, John 
Morrow, John 
Evans, John R. 
I'ovvers, \\'illiam 
Wicks, Frederick 
Burke, Edward 
Moore, Dennis 
Moore, Thomas 
DeLaney, Patrick 



no 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




L. T. TINGIER, 
Clerk Superior Court. 




JOHN E. FISK, 
Judge of Police Court. 




A. MAGDEFRAU, 
Collector of Taxes. 




FRANK R. RAU. 

Superintendent of Public Works since 
1898. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CEEERRATION. 



HI 



Quirke, John 
Mackie, John 
Worden, Peter 
Baker, Geo. L. 
Long, Charles 
Kramer, Sigfried 
O'Brien, Dominick 
Phelan, James 
Sweeney, James 
Burns, Andrew 
Flanagan, John 
Jones, James 
Kennedy, John 
Robinson, John 
Welch, Joseph 
Kendall, Dwight T. 
Weston, Chas. 
Owen, Henry 
Alden, Philander 
Allen, Edward P. 
Marvin, Edwin E. 
Symonds, Edwin E. 
Noad, Wm. J. 
Rich, Geo. W. 
Coffey, Wm. B. 
Galvin, Patrick J. 
Griswold, Willard 
Rix, Albert S. 
Skinner, Richard H. 
Stangle, J. Conrad 
McGuire, Patrick 
Alden, John A. 
Beckwith, Geo. B. 
Denley, Richard 
Gavin, Hugh B. 
Higgins, James 
James, Benjamin F. 
Kernon, Francis E. 
McCardle, Patrick 
McCartney, John 
McGee, Thomas 
Medemach, Matthew J. 
Moore, James 
Noon, Patrick 
Rich, Albert L. 
Schmidt, Charles G. 
Sloan, Wm. 
Tracy, Simon K. 
Preston, Henry B. 
Davis, Royal L. 
Carragan, Henry 
McDonald, James 
Jackson, Thomas 
Minoyne, Patrick 
Felber, Jacob 



l-"ell)fr. John 
Kedcl. August 
Bursk. Oscar 
Davis, William 
liacon, Chaunc(.y A. 
Bisscll, Robert 
Rogers, Wm. P. 
Boucher, Wm. 
Firmin, Orange -S. 
I-'orkey, Horatio \\ 
(iainer, I'redcric H. 
King, Albert TI. 
Swan, Geo. F. 
Scnnewald, Martin 
Dielenschneider, James 
Murphy, John 
Gainer. Albert F. 
Smith, John M. 
Wilson, Da\id 
.Vtkinson, Charles 
Furgey, John 
Jones, Wm. F. 
Rice, Daniel 
Swan, George E. 
Thompson, Charles W. 
Williams, Frank 
Jost. Frederick, Jr. 
Schrier, Louis 
Roof, Frederick 
Brown, James 
Dyer, Frederick H. 
Henderson, Thomas 
Costello. ^^'illiam 
Murray, John 
Brady, Alichael 
Hersey. Peter H. 
Stone, Charles 
Shipman, Wells 
Lenz, Charles 
Clark, Patrick 
Edmunds, Daniel 
Duttoii, George 
Black, William 
Burnham, John 
Sorcnsen, Nelson N. 
Frank. Jacob 
Koehler, Julius 
Lutz, Jacob 
Renz. Christojiher 
Storz, William 
St. Peters, Charles 
Lang. Thomas 
Marcus. Peter 
Taylor, A. L. 
Fenton, Patrick A. 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK 




JOHN KRESS, 
Councilman Second Ward. 




THEODORE STAUDT, 
Councilman Third Ward. 




JAMES BREEN, 
Councilman Fourth Ward. 




CONRAD SACHSE, 
Councilman Fourth Ward. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



113 



Stebbins, Henry L. 
George, Wm. H. H. 
George, Andrew G. 
George, Thomas A. 
Gravestine, Abram 
O'Grady, Patrick 
Williams, John 
Standish, William 
Albrecht, William 
Burdick, Randall 
Bergen, William 
Carr, Joseph 
Lewis, Dr. J. B. 
Lehman, Julins 
Holt. Rollin 
Martin, William 
Young, Henry 
Meehan. Terrence 



Duggin, Mark 
Henderson, James 
Thompson, William 
Fcnton, Patrick J. 
Maude, Charles 
Wilson, John 
Corey, Philip 
Farrell, Matthew 
Borchers, William 
Schultz, Charles 
Snow, Charles 
Esler, Frederick 
Johnson, Julius 
Clayton, John 
Romain, Henry 
Coye, Henry W. 
Patten, Zadock 
Reynolds, Alfred 




THE HENRY BlILDIXG, i>I01>EI{> lU Sl.NKSS |{I,<M K. (OliNKK OF I'VliU l'l,A(L AM) 

I'AUK STREET. 



114 



OFFICTAI. PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




DR. ALFRED R. GOODRICH, 

For 60 years associated with the profes- 
sional, social and commercial inter- 
ests of Vernon. Prominent in public 
affairs. Three terms comptroller of 
state of Connecticut ; State Treasurer 
two terms. 




E. F. BADMINGTON, 
Member of Committee on Industrial Ex- 
hibit, Vernon Centennial Celebration. 




THE LATE AMASA P. DICKINSON, 
Four Times Elected Sheriff of Tol- 
land County; Died May 3, 1908. 




WILLIAM J. AUSTIN 

Bookkeeper and Teller for the past 25 years 

at the Savings Bank of Rockville. 



A^KRNON-RnCKVIIJ.E CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



115 




ixUSic-R OF COMPANY C WHEN MUSTERED INTO THE UNITED 

STATES SERVICE AT CAMP HAVEN, NIANTIC, MAY 17, 

1898, BY LIEUTENANT ROWAN, U. S. ARMY. 

OFFICERS. 

Captain — Martin Laubscher. 
Lieutenants — 1st, John Paul Haun ; 2nd, Frederick W. ChajMiian. 
First Sergeant — James li. Barnett. 
Sergeants — Quartermaster, Francis Murray; Charles B. Milne, Arthur W. Gjngell, 

*James W. Milne, Albert E. Usher. 
Corporals — 1st, William F. Schillinger; 2nd, Webster Kaye ; 3rd, William M. 
Hefferon; 4th, Arthur A. Gerich ; 5th, W^illiam J. Breen; 6th, Albert E. M. 
Profe. 

Musicians — William J. Fiiiley, \Valtcr F. McCray. 
Artificer — Henry M. Seijit. 
Wagoner — George B. McClellan. 
Privates — George N. Aborn, Charles R. Anderson, Sylvester E. Arnold, Ernest E. 
Austin, Albert C. Bartlett, James A. Beaumont, Charles E. Binch, Richard 
Brache, Frank S. Breen, Hugo Broil, Harry J. Brown, Elmer W. Cahoon, 
Frank D. Chadwick, Richard G. Champion, Perlin L. Charter, Wilbur F. 
Charter, Jesse Clift, William J. Connolly, John Connors 2d, Jevvitt Cullumn, 
Philip Diedering, Jr., John Donovan. I'rank P. ])o\vd, h^ancis F. Kinseidel, 
James B. Farrell, Francis J'. F'itzijatrick, Joseph H. Flynn, Otto Flossbach, 
David E. F'ox, Herman P. I'ranz, John K. Gavvtrey, Thomas l". Golden, George 
F. Gorham, *Felix Gross, Manviile (Jrumhack. John F. Haun, John J. Ileckcr, 

*Died of typhoid fever, contracted while in the service of Uncle Sam. 



116 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




A. N. BELDING, 
Member of Committee on Industrial Ex- 
hibit, Vernon Centennial Celebration. 







THE LATE GEORGE SYKES. 

A captain of industry who worked his 
own way to the topmost round of the 
ladder. Closely identified with the 
growth of Rockville as a manufac- 
turing center for nearly forty years. 
Left $100,000 for Manual Training 
School, which has increased $10,000 
since his death. His widow has given 
$50,000, and his daughter, Mrs. Elsie 
Sykes Phelps, has presented trustees 
with desirable building site in the 
heart of the city. 



VERNON - ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



117 



George A. Hewitt, Andrew Ilopf, S(|uire Jackson, James S. Jones, Martin T. 
Leamy, Robert II. Lehmann, Jason I). Lowell, Charles F. Liulwig, James H. 
Lutton, Joseph H. Lutz, Thomas P. Lynch, William E. Lyons, Matthew 
McNamara, Philip J. Mahr, Frank L. Alanion, Ferdinand A. Matthewson, 
George Meyer, George PI. Miller, Thomas L. Millot, Thomas F. Moore, John 
C. Murphy, John L. Mnrjihy, John \V. Murphy, William C. Murphy, Patrick 
J. McCollough, Donahl K. .McLagen, Matthew N. Nahigian, Thomas V. 
Newbury, Francis M. Norli>n, John J. ( )'Xcil, William Phillips, l-"rederick J. 
A. H. Profe, James J. Quinn, Ruberi 11. kau, Charles H. Rausenback, John 
Regan, Emil R. Schwerwitzky, Carl C. Schmeiske, Emil W. Schmeiske, Ernest 
A. Sharp, Isaac Simnis, John H. Smith, Frederick W' . Stengel, Henry II. 
Tracy, Herman C. ^^^agner, Charles J. Waidncr, .Xntliony \\'nmicgcr, Walter 
1. Willis. Howard Winchcll. 




OLD TAVERN AT DOBSONVILLE, 

Where "Bije" Evans, Well Known Character in the Early Days of the Town, 
Fiddled For the Breakdown. 



118 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




PETER DOBSON, 
Pioneer of the Town of Vernon, Estab- 
lished first cotton mill in Town of Ver- 
non and one of the first in America. 
Co-worker with Samuel Slater, father 
of cotton manufacturing in this coun- 
try. 



VERNON -ROCKVILLE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. 



110 



GENERAL INFORMATION. 



Historical Exhibit of Relics and Curios 
in Library Hall, in the JMaxwell Memorial 
Library, will be open daily during Centen- 
nial week. Here are gathered, from tlie- 
rare stores of old residents, many objects of 
historical interest connected with the tradi- 
tions and events of early times. 

On arriving at Eockville, visitors are re- 
quested to register their names, with home 
and local address, at the Information Bureau, 
which is located in the office of the Rock- 
ville Gas & Electric Company, in the Pres- 
cott block, on Park street. Compliance witli 
this request will hasten (lie reunion of old 
friends and will enable the commiltee to 
keep a record of all former residents who 
visit the town during the week. 

The Information Bureau, office of Eock- 
ville Gas & Electric Company, Prescott 
block, Park street, is established for the con- 
venience of visitors. Articles lost or found 
should be reported here. A list of available 
rooms and boarding places will be on file. 
Persons having any rooms to rent or who 
desire to take boarders should communicate 
at once with William M. Lewis, Bureau of 
Information, giving address and full jiai-- 
ticulars. 

An Industrial Exhilnt, showing the 
pioducts of Vernon's manufacturing plants, 
will be held daily in the Maxwell Memorial 
Library, on Union street, main floor. It 
will be well worth a visit. The commitlce 
in charge of the exhibit consists of E. E. 
Badmington, A. N. Belding, M. C. Mason, 
William Maxwell, F. J. Regan, Lebbeus F. 
Bissell, A. L. Martin, Frank Keeney. C. 1). 
Talcott and Minor White. 

The A'ictor Cai-nival Company of New 
York City, the largest carnival company on 
the road, will fui-nish the Midway attrac- 
tions for Vernon's Centennial celebration 



for (he eiitin- week. The compaiiv has a 
gorgeous outfit and is beyond question the 
finest thing of its kind ever seen in this sec- 
tion of the country, and alongside of it all 
other Midways pale into insignificance. The; 
shows are clean and wholcsoiiu — each one of 
them — and women and childii'u need have 
no fear in attending. 

Miss Mabel McKinley, a (aleiilcil mid nv- 
coiuplished singer, niece of (be hmiciiled 
{•resident. William McKinley, has Ixtii se- 
cured Cor a special at( rm-lion for (be cnfiiv 
week and will sing every aKen n and even- 
ing several of her own composilimis. includ- 
ing the famous Indian .song. ■■Anon;!."" She 
will be heard in (]ir open :iir. pnibabh on 
Central Park, and will \ir ;i(rnnip:inic(| bv a 
full concert baud. 

N. B.— The aihleiic eveiiis scheduled for 
Wednesday in (he otiicial program, given 
elsewhere, have been changed to Tuesday, 
June ;30. 

On Tuesday evening, .Mdcn Skinner 
camp. Sons of WIerans. will give a grand 
ball in Town Hall. 

Visilors io Ivockville during (he week 
who want to spend a few delightful hours 
should visit Snipsic Lake and Crystal Lake. 
Hoi'kville and Stafford trolley cars take you 
direct to the Lakes. Both beautiful resorts. 

Ijook through the souvenir book and noie 
the ])laces of historic interest. IF you liavi' 
any spare lime after seeing tlii> many and 
diversified aitractions, it will pay von lo 
visit some of these places. 

A limited number of the odlcial [)rograins 
for Old Hoine Week Vernon- K'ockville cen- 
(eniiial celebradon will be placed on .sale at 
Ifandall's Book Store after the regular edi- 
tion has been distributed, for 525 cents. 
Mailed to any aildress upon receipt of 35 
cents. 



OFFICIAL PROGRAM— OLD HOME WEEK. 




THE LATE GEORGE MAXWELL, 

A potent factor in the development of 
Rockville. Possessed of executive gen- 
ius and sound business qualities. Held 
numerous positions of trust. A leading 
spirit and tireless worker in all benevolent 
schemes. Greatly beloved by all who 
knew him. Father of the Maxwell 
Brothers. 



LIBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 



014 112 177 7 



■^msss^mi- and that is . 



There is one line of Goods 
manufactured in Rockville 
with a National Reputation, 






mi' 



Martin's KINGFISHER Brand 
Braided $m Fisii Lines. . . . 



They are the Best Wearing, the Smoothest 
Running, the most Durable and Highest 
Grade SILK FISH LINES made. More 
High Grade Silk Fish Lines are made in 
Rockville than any other one place in the 
World 



E. J. MARTIN & SONS, 

V' ^^-^ "^'^^ originators, designers and produc- 
1 .„ ' ^rs of these celebrated Hnes, are natives 
of Rockville and have made Rockville 
the home of the most famous Silk Fish 
Lines ever produced 



014 112 177 7 



W-i 



^JU'^^'f^ 



There is one line of Goods ^ ^ 
manufactured in Rockville ; L\ 



with a National Reputation, r ;^ /-^ - 

and that is . . . 



Martin's KINGFISHER Brand 
Braided Silli Fish Lines. . . . 



They are the Best Wearing, the Smoothest 
Running, the most Durable and Highest 
Grade SILK FISH LINES made. More 
High Grade Silk Fish Lines are made in 
Rockville than any other one place in the 
World 



•Vi^- 



E. J. MARTIN & SONS, 



The originators, designers and produc- 
ers of these celebrated lines, are natives 
of Rockville and have made Rockville 
the home of the most famous Silk Fish 
Lines ever produced 






•'. ir nri'-g'JrFi .0X3 1- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Hill n 1 



00141121777 O 



